College camp trashed; damages nearly $4,000
By Carlene Peterson


Phi Kappa Tau, a fraternity at Buffalo State College, has been suspended and an investigation of vandalism that occurred at Whispering Pines, the college camp, is pending.

Phi Kappa Tau reserved the camp for the weekend of March 5 through March 7. According to a memo from Mike Lynch, the camp director, after Phi Kappa Tau left the camp, an inspection revealed numerous damages.

According to the memo:

  • Alcohol containers were strewn all over.
  • Three fire extinguishers were discharged.
  • A bonfire had been built within 25 feet of the dwelling, in violation of New York state fire code.
  • A dog had been let loose inside and outside the building.
  • Egg was splattered on the walls and shells were on the floor.
  • Cigarette and cigar butts were all over, despite the no smoking signs.
  • All five toilets were clogged and were overflowing with waste.

Several items were either broken or missing at Whispering Pines, according to the memo, including:

  • two new kitchen cabinets
  • a bathroom mirror
  • kitchen supplies
  • a toilet seat
  • a window screen
  • two fire extinguishers

Extensive cleaning and repairs was required in order for the building and grounds to be used again.

"Special equipment will be needed to clean biowaste and the toilets need to be snaked," according to the memo. Also, "Because of stains and odors the bunk beds will have to be dismantled then put back together in order to shampoo the carpets."

Kamal Jefferson, the president of United Students Government, said the fraternity has been banned from Whispering Pines for five years, and is scheduled to appear in front of Student Judicial. Jefferson said about $4,000 in damages were reported.

"They've been suspended from campus, but have no been expelled," Jefferson said. "That means they can't use the rooms in the Student Union and had to take their letters down from the Student Union wall."

As a result of the damages at Whispering Pines, USG felt it necessary to increase the deposit required to reserve the camp. According to a memo from Jefferson to USG organizations, not only will the deposit be raised, but organization adviser must sign-off on the Whispering Pines camp contract.

"The current deposit for all Non-Funded and Non-Recognized Organizations is $200.00; Effective immediately the deposit will be raised to $500.00," according to the memo.

"We have to look out for Whispering Pines, and the best way we know how is to raise the deposit," Jefferson said.

A list of recognized Greek organizations is available on BSC's website, but no phone number was listed for Phi Kappa Tau.

Michael Fox, the adviser of Phi Kappa Tau and a creative studies lecturer at BSC, said the last timehe talked to any member of the fraternity was in thefall of 2003 when a member approached him asking for Fox to be their adviser.

"I was just trying to help out by being an adviser, but they weren't coming to me for any help," Fox said. "It's kind of tough to be an adviser when you can't even get a hold of them."

Email: Carlenepeterson5@yahoo.com