Northwestern's chapter of Delta Upsilon fraternity will face disciplinary action from their international organization as a result of their controversial rush event, DU International Executive Director Justin Kirk said.
The chapter hired the Half Pint Brawlers, a group which bills itself as the "one and only hardcore midget wrestling group," to entertain prospective pledges at an event held Jan. 8. Two paid performers, known as "Puppet the Psycho Dwarf" and "Little Justice," stimulated sex, stapled each other in the face, and jumped off a ladder onto one another, as depicted in photos and videos e-mailed to The Daily.
City officials said the event, also under investigation by the university, broke no laws, but the national organization said it contradicted the fraternity's founding principles.
"The conduct of these members by holding this event is unbecoming of a man of DU and is not what we stand for," Kirk said.
The organization will cooperate with university and Interfraternity Council officials in conducting an investigation, though Kirk declined to say what the consequences for NU's chapter might be. DU International staff members will visit the chapter on Sunday and Monday to meet with its members, he said.
IFC President Billy Carberry declined to comment on the investigation.
DU chapter President Tommy Smithburg and Risk Chair Nathan Baum acknowledged responsibility but wrote that the event did not violate university rules regarding hazing in a Letter to the Editor published Tuesday.
They did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday night.
NU policy defines hazing as "any action taken or situation created, whether on or off university premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule for the purpose of affiliation with a group, team, club, or their organization," according to NU's student handbook.
The Little People of America, an advocacy group, believes that such wrestling groups are inherently demeaning to little people.
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billyjoe
posted 1/16/08 @ 1:29 PM CST
Fraternity members disciplined for engaging in Fraternity-party-like behavior?
What gives?
Will the university's Fraternity Row soon resemble Munchkinland, when it is besieged with picketing members of the National Association of Little People?
Billy from Baltimore
posted 1/16/08 @ 2:36 PM CST
Delta Upsilon was once on campus at Johns Hopkins... it was forcibly removed by the anti-Greek system.
As a member of the group that is restarting the DU clan here at J Hop. (Continued…)
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