University of Virginia Library

University Withdraws ZBT Recognition
Following Spring Narcotics Arrests

By JOHN EPPS

Because of what Vice
President for Student Affairs
D. Alan Williams called
"flagrant" violations of drug
distribution laws, the
University, in conjunction with
the national chapter of Zeta
Beta Tau fraternity, has
revoked recognition of the
local chapter of ZBT until
September of 1976.

The action came after seven
members of ZBT were arrested
in the spring for violating drug
abuse laws.

According to Mr. Williams,
ZBT national intends to
withdraw the fraternity's
charter and place it with the
University's Inter-Fraternity
Council (IFC). This, he said,
will prevent ZBT from
becoming an "outlaw"
fraternity with the IFC having
no regulatory powers.

The action prevents the
fraternity from conducting any
kind of rush in the next three
years and from participating in
any inter-fraternity functions,
such as the high-point
intramural athletic league.

Mr. Williams said the
University believed such steps
were necessary because ZBT
was placed on probation in 1971
for the same offense. He said,
too, that three years was the
normal length of time for a
school to withdraw recognition
from a fraternity in serious
cases.

"This is a very standard
period when a house has been
unable to control its own
affairs," he said.

Mr. Williams said the house
may possibly operate as a
social club with recognition by
Student Council. However,
"how the house functions," he
added, "as a non-fraternity is
up to the Chi Corporation (the
owners of the house) and the
national council."

It is unsure at this time
whether ZBT will be
recognized at the end of the
three year period. Mr. Williams
said the University was making

a "positive presumption" that
in three years the fraternity
can "reassert itself."

At the end of the
probationary period, if the
national chapter wishes to
re-establish a chapter at the
University, they will have to
rely on graduate students and
interested alumni, since the last
pledged class is expected to
graduate in the spring of 1976.

According to IFC President
Hugh Carter, the IFC had
placed the house on a
"three-year drug probation"
which stipulated if another
drug related incident occurred
at the house, the-IFC would
rescind recognition.

He did not condemn the
University's action, however.
"We could easily have been
proved wrong," he said, if
another incident had occurred.