06/13/2014
Dear Brother and fellow Chi Zeta Alum,
We are writing to address the recent police incident to keep you fully advised of the situation and our response on behalf of all alumni. On May 9, 2014 it was widely reported that seven students, identified by the press as members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, were arrested on drug charges in Champaign. Unfortunately multiple news reports on local and Chicago television were inaccurate and incomplete. Regardless, the allegations are very serious and could affect our chapter at Illinois, so we want to provide additional information for your benefit.
Background: The recent events are apparently related to an investigation initiated last year by the Champaign Police Department of certain drug activities in Champaign. Search warrants were executed in October 2013 at several locations around campus, including a rental property occupied by seven seniors who were then members of Lambda Chi living out-of-house, and several specified rooms in the chapter house on Armory Street. Although contraband was seized from these locations, no arrests were made.
Reaction by the undergraduate leadership was excellent and followed all of the crisis management protocols established by Lambda Chi Alpha and the University. They cooperated fully with the Champaign Police Department and the University of Illinois, and initiated an internal review and disciplinary procedures. As a result of hearings conducted by the Executive Committee of the active chapter with the supervision of the Chapter Advisor, five members were expelled from the fraternity or resigned under threat of expulsion, including two out-of-house members who were found to be principal parties and two members living in-house. One additional member in-house was suspended (required to have no contact with the chapter), and one alumni member who was implicated in the investigation was instructed not to enter the chapter house until further notice.
The Alumni Association, through our President, Chapter Advisor and Board, worked with the active chapter and with leadership of both the University of Illinois and Lambda Chi Alpha International to assure transparency and full cooperation. We also required two mandatory drug counselling sessions for all active members to reinforce the drug policy at Chi Zeta, which were completed during the past semester.
Recent Events: The seven arrests made earlier this month are reported to be an outcome of this ongoing investigation. Because criminal proceedings are now underway, it would not be appropriate for us to speculate or comment on the specific allegations, although we can provide important additional facts relating to the events and our fraternity.
Of the seven men arrested, six were living in the out-of-house rental property previously involved. This residence has no formal or informal connection to Lambda Chi Alpha. Three of the six, including the two charged with the most serious offenses of possession with intent to deliver, were those who previously had been expelled or had resigned from Lambda Chi Alpha, and were no longer affiliated in any way with our fraternity. One of those arrested on a lesser charge had also been expelled last year, and another had already graduated from the University and was no longer a member of the active chapter. The two other seniors who were arrested were active members living in the rental property. They were not part of the fall searches or known by us to be involved in the police investigations, and were not involved in the previous disciplinary hearings.
Of greatest concern to us all, the seventh man arrested this month was a sophomore active living in the chapter house on Armory Street. He was arrested on May 9 for the serious charges of possession of controlled substances with intent to deliver, and quantities of illegal substances, paraphernalia and cash were found in a safe hidden in the closet of his room. Unfortunately none of the information from the prior police investigation and earlier disciplinary proceedings cast any suspicion on this member or his activities. It should be noted that the May 9 search warrant and arrest were directed at only that one individual and his personal room; no other activity by or at the chapter house has been suggested. At present we have no evidence that drug sales occurred at the chapter house, only that drugs were being stored there by the individual who was arrested.
The chapter officers again acted swiftly and appropriately the night of the arrest, assisting the University of Illinois Police Department and immediately informing the office of the University Dean of Students, officials at our International Fraternity office, the Chapter Advisor and the Alumni Association leadership. New disciplinary proceedings were promptly convened on Sunday, May 11, 2014 regarding the additional members now identified, and all three have been expelled from the fraternity. The alumnus implicated has also now been formally expelled from the fraternity.
How this affects the chapter long term is to be determined in the coming weeks. Board members and chapter officers are now in direct communication with University of Illinois administration and the appropriate personnel at Lambda Chi Alpha International. Although we cannot undo the inaccuracies in previous press reports, we can and will act to implement any actions deemed appropriate to assure a drug-free environment for our active members. We cannot and will not tolerate any violation of these critical policies, and this has been made known to the undergraduate leadership. We are pleased to report that the chapter leadership is equally committed to these principals, and is as outraged and disappointed as we are about the recent activities.
Chi Zeta has over 2200 initiated members and over 1300 living alumni. The Alumni Association leadership will continue to work with University Administration and the Lambda Chi Alpha International to assure that its policies prohibiting drug use will be followed and that the actions of a few do not jeopardize the brotherhood shared by the many.
Yours in ZAX,
The Board of Alumni Association Chi Zeta Lambda Chi Alpha
