Wesleyan Frat House Closes After University Loses Confidence in Fraternity

Students are no longer allowed to live in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house. The decision from Wesleyan President Michael S. Roth was made after a sophomore fell from a window on Sunday, Sept. 7.

“We have lost confidence in the ability of the fraternity members to manage social and residential activities at the house and abide by university policies,” Roth said in the email.

According to Wesleying.org, the house will be closed for the next academic year, minimum. The house is located at 184 High St., Middletown.

The topic of fraternities on campus has been on Roth’s mind for months. In April 2014, he posted the following on his webpage:

“It’s up to all of us to create the kind of campus climate we value, and it’s become very clear that fraternities, as presently constituted, pose challenges to that ongoing effort. I expect to make a further announcement with respect to the role of fraternities on campus after consulting with trustees at the Board meeting in May. Meanwhile, I‘ll continue to listen to and learn from a variety of perspectives on how to create the best residential learning environment we can.”

Do you agree with the president’s decision? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

This is not the first time the house made headlines. In April 2013, police investigated an alleged sexual assault at the Beta Theta Pi house.

In 2012, a Wesleyan student sued the fraternity, its chapter, the university and the landlord of the Beta Theta Pi house after claiming she was sexually assaulted at the house, according to Courthouse News Service.

The Hartford Courant reported a settlement in that case and said the accused man, John O’Neill of Yorktown, N.Y., was not a Wesleyan student.

He was a guest at the fraternity house and issued a 15-month stay in prison.

Click here to read the article from Wesleying and the full email from Roth.

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