Oxford, Ohio, September 18 – Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters today announced it has formally suspended and removed the charter from its Louisiana Beta Chapter at Louisiana State University (LSU). This action comes four days after the Fraternity launched its investigation into the tragic passing of prospective member Maxwell Gruver.
The determination to suspend operations at LSU was based on the preliminary findings of an investigation that uncovered enough information to conclude that some chapter members were in violation of established risk management policies, including our Alcohol Free Housing policy. With this decision, Phi Delta Theta will shutter the chapter effective immediately.
“We continue to keep the entire Gruver family in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time,” said Bob Biggs, Executive Vice President and CEO of Phi Delta Theta. “This is a very tragic situation that should have never happened.”
Phi Delta Theta will continue to support the ongoing investigations by both LSU and local law enforcement and encourage authorities to prosecute those involved to the fullest extent of the law. The Fraternity will also continue its internal investigation to completely understand the situation in order to hold all of those who violated its risk management policies accountable for their actions.
Concurrent with its ongoing investigation, Phi Delta Theta will be completing a thorough review of all of the Fraternity’s health and safety policies and educational programs, and is committed to enacting any new initiatives to help prevent similar situations in the future.
“This tragedy furthers our belief that one of the biggest problems on college campuses today is the abuse and misuse of alcohol,” said Biggs. “In 2000, we implemented Alcohol-Free Housing to address this issue, but this incident serves as a stark reminder of why we need to continue to educate our undergraduates on the dangers of alcohol, hazing, and be constantly vigilant to ensure our risk management policies are fully implemented.”
Founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio on December 26, 1848, Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity has 190 chapters and colonies and 95 alumni clubs across the United States and Canada. To date the Fraternity has initiated over 250,000 men into the society whose founding principles are friendship, sound learning and rectitude. In 2000, Phi Delta Theta became the largest Fraternity to implement an alcohol-free housing policy in all facilities.
