Fraternity formal ends with underage consumption citations

Approximately 30 University of South Dakota students were cited for underage drinking at a Minnesota hotel Oct. 26.

The students had been celebrating a formal of USD’s chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel in Morton, Minn.

The incident was confirmed by Brian Pendleton, general manager of the casino hotel. Pendleton said the hotel has held Greek formals before, but this is the first time anything of this nature has happened. Pendleton added that while the students in question have not been legally barred from the hotel, they were asked to leave following the incident and have been discouraged from returning at any point in the near future.

Dean of Students Kimberly Grieve said the university is “aware of the situation.”

“It’s really just in the investigative process,” Grieve said. “It’s currently going through Student Conduct and Student Rights & Responsibilities.”

Grieve said although the university investigates all instances of student misconduct, the fact that the incident occurred outside of Vermillion makes a difference.

“We handle things a bit differently when they happen off campus rather than on campus,” she said. “But we still call them in for conversation about how they have impacted USD and the community.”

Grieve said the university hasn’t had any previous problems with the fraternity in question, and she said they handled the situation well, saying the fraternity was “very forthcoming” about the matter.

“If everyone can learn from this, then that would be the best situation,” Grieve said.

Students involved in the incident have declined to comment, as has Amber Groh, the sorority and fraternity life adviser at USD.

Check out The Volante website for more updates on the development of the Phi Delta Theta incident.