A former member of Penn State’s Kappa Delta Rho chapter informed police about two private illicit Facebook pages allegedly operated by members of the fraternity, according to the State College Police Department’s affidavit of probable cause.
According to the affidavit, the former member acted as an informant, and collected photographs, text messages and posts on the Facebook page as evidence for the investigation, according to the affidavit.
This page, “2.0,” started about eight months after the fraternity’s original Facebook page “Covert Business Transactions,” was shut down, according to the affidavit. Both pages could only be accessed through invitations from page members, according to the affidavit.
Both pages included evidence of hazing, photos of nude unconscious women and drug sales. Drugs exchanged included marijuana, edibles, concentrates, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication and some cocaine, according to the affidavit.
In the photos, females were “passed out and nude or in other sexual or embarrassing positions,” according to the affidavit. The individuals in the photos seem to be unaware their pictures had been taken, according to the affidavit.
“This is the type of stuff that happens at KDR,” the informant said about the fraternity in the affidavit. These were only a fraction of 2.0’s contents.
The original page had been deleted after a female — who had previously visited the fraternity — threatened them when she found a topless photograph of herself posted to the group, according to the affidavit. 2.0 was created soon after.
The informant, who was a member of 2.0, deactivated his Facebook account so current members could not remove him from the group, according to the affidavit, and offered his account to the State College Police to utilize in order to access the page.
2.0 had 144 active members including current students and alumni of the fraternity.
Kappa Delta Rho was placed on full chapter suspension Monday after the pages’ existence came to light. While under suspension, Kappa Delta Rho is banned from participating, attending or organizing social activities, which include community service, intramural sports and events at other locations.
“In accordance with that review, we have placed the chapter on suspension for the remainder of this semester and we are conducting a full membership review and reorganization,” Executive Director for the Kappa Delta Rho national headquarters Joseph Rosenberg said via e-mail. “We have informed the appropriate officials at Penn State of these actions. We will cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies and the university’s investigation and disciplinary process.”
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
Statement from Penn State:
State College (Pa.) Police and Penn State administrators continue to investigate the reports surrounding Kappa Delta Rho (KDR) fraternity. The Penn State Interfraternity Council, to which KDR belongs, has suspended the chapter’s activities. Following suspension of the chapter by the Interfraternity Council on March 3, the national KDR fraternity has announced the local chapter will be suspended for one year and will be reorganized. This means that all chapter social and related activities are suspended.
This action is being taken in response to the chapter allegedly hosting private Facebook pages where highly inappropriate photographs were posted of activities and events that are in direct violation of the standards and values of a recognized student organization at Penn State. The evidence offered by the Facebook postings is appalling, offensive and inconsistent with the University community’s values and expectations.
We are confident that the various investigative and review processes, both internal and external to the University, will determine responsibility in this case. The University will hold accountable any groups and individuals found responsible. Discipline and accountability for Penn State’s fraternities can occur on several levels since these are private organizations. Such investigations are conducted in partnership with fraternity nationals, chapter alumni boards, and the Penn State Interfraternity Council, as well as local law enforcement.
If there are students or others who have information about this situation or feel that they have been victims associated with this matter, they are encouraged to contact the Penn State Office of Student Conduct at 814-863-0342 or the State College Police Department 814-234-7150 as soon as possible.
Damon Sims
Vice President for Student Affairs
Penn State
