UConn's Epsilon Pi Chapter Closed Amid Student Death Investigation

STORRS, CT — The Delta Gamma Fraternity Council has voted to withdraw the charter of Epsilon Pi at the University of Connecticut as the investigation into the October death of a UConn student continues.

The chapter was notified on Monday, according to a news release issued by the Columbus, OH-based "Greek" organization.

“The tragic death of a new member greatly affected Delta Gamma Fraternity and caused council to reflect on the member experience at Epsilon Pi,” council President Stacia Rudge Skoog said in the news release. “The decision to close a chapter is never easy, but council strongly feels it is in the best interest of the chapter and University of Connecticut community.”

The chapter was established at UConn in 1983.

The incident was on Oct. 16. Six members of a fraternity that hosted a party near UConn have been charged in the case.

The incident was on Oct. 16. The student who died was 19-year-old Jeffny Pally, who lived at 87 Northbrook Drive, West Hartford, according to law enforcement and court documents.

According to court and law enforcement documents, Pally was dropped off at her university residence by a car service, but somehow wandered out of it and wound up behind the UConn public safety complex at 1:15 a.m.,

The UConn Fire Department then received a call about an illegal discharge of a stolen fire extinguisher. Meanwhile, Pally had leaned up against a garage door, according to court and police documents. It opened, she fell back and a fire department sport utility vehicle ran over her, documents show. Court papers indicate she was legally drunk and they outline lax supervision of underage attendees at a party that night.

Delta Gamma officials said, "New information discovered during a recent university investigation into an unregistered event, coupled with repeated policy violations over the last several years, led Council to the decision to close the chapter indefinitely."

A number of fraternal organizations have been subject to sanctions at UConn over the years, primarily because of suspect public behavior. Delta Gamma officials said the local chapter has had an "on-and-off status" with the parent fraternity and UConn since the spring of 2014 because of "risk management concerns and policy violations."

UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said the letter was not sent to university officials but, the organization "made us aware that it was rescinding the chapter." She said she was able to view the letter on Tuesday morning.

Shortly after, UConn released a statement of its own regarding the host of the party, Kappa Sigma.

"In most cases, fraternities or sororities are given an opportunity to reorganize on campus after several years if they follow prescribed steps, including regaining their national charter.

"However, the university determined in this case that Kappa Sigma will not have that opportunity, given that it has displayed “a pattern of behavior and organizational culture that has been dangerous to the members of the group as well as those associated with it."

The statement was part of a letter sent to Kappa Sigma.

Delta Gamma officials said the parent organization, "holds all members and chapters to the standard outlined in Article II of our constitution."

That reads:

"The objects of this Fraternity shall be to foster high ideals of friendship among women, to
promote their educational and cultural interests, to create in them a true sense of social
responsibility and to develop in them the best qualities of character."

Skoog said, “Chapters unwilling to follow the policies, procedures and safeguards required by Delta Gamma do not provide the experience to our members that we expect Epsilon Pi will remain a valued part of the Delta Gamma sisterhood. Epsilon Pi was established at the University of Connecticut in 1983. Since that time, the chapter has initiated 1,001 women. While there is the possibility that Delta Gamma could return to the University of Connecticut in the future, there are no plans to do so at this time."

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