As we anticipate the release of a Report from Penn State University concerning the matters involving our chapter there, the national leadership of Kappa Delta Rho has undertaken significant actions in recent months. As we have stated throughout this matter, respect for every individual is a hallmark principle of our fraternity. In order to further this principle, we have engaged in dialogue with the university administration, our brothers at Penn State and leading national experts on the issues we have confronted at Penn State.
Our internal Membership Review and Reorganization is continuing. With respect to our internal review, any member of the fraternity found to have committed acts of improper conduct will be appropriately disciplined, up to and including expulsion from the fraternity. With respect to our members who have neither been accused of nor committed any improper behavior, our Brotherhood and support will continue.
On a national level, we have conducted a full review of our existing program to support our undergraduates and host institutions in educating our undergraduate Brothers on issues of sexual assault, sexual harassment and the abuse of alcohol and drugs. In order to strengthen this program, we recently entered into an agreement with Campus Clarity to provide training for our membership that will facilitate a broad educational program that is not solely a prevention effort, offers skills based training for our members, is intentional in our language, and engages our student leaders to evaluate the larger issues associated with these topics. The “Think About It” program will be fully implemented in this upcoming academic year as part of our Legion Program, which is a total member education program designed to provide leadership skills and knowledge to our Brothers that will allow them to lead successfully in their communities.
With respect to the problem of hazing, our national leadership will not tolerate inappropriate conduct. At Penn State, we have conducted appropriate inquiries regarding alleged hazing and cooperated with the university administration. We shared information from our review with the appropriate administrators at Penn State and will hold any members involved in any such acts accountable through our judicial process. In our review we found one of the barriers was having a vehicle or method of reporting of possible incidents of hazing. Toward this end, we made arrangements to join a consortium of national organizations that maintain a hazing hotline, which any Brother, Parent or member of the community may use at any time around the clock. This hotline was instituted on March 27, 2015.
Kappa Delta Rho is an organization characterized by devotion to respect for others. We will continue to adhere to that standard, and we provide this report in furtherance of our core values.
