The 15 members of Zeta Phi Beta sorority were suspended by their national headquarters this summer after an investigation by Western revealed hazing violations.

“The university received some anonymous information, and it came from two or three different sources,” said Howard Bailey, dean of Student Life. “Then we started looking into it from there.”

Bailey said the information about possible hazing by members of the sorority came from faculty and non-traditional students who weren’t affiliated with the organization.

Bailey would not elaborate on the allegations or activities of Zeta Phi Beta, but did say the hazing by members was of a physical and mental nature.

Zeta Phi Beta president Yvette Taylor refused to comment about the sorority’s punishment and referred all questions to vice president Tiandra Miller.

Miller denied the hazing violations when contacted last night. She said Western never presented the sorority with proof of why it was being placed on probation.

“We don’t have a side of the story because we still don’t know what happened,” Miller said.

She said the only information the sorority received was a call last semester from Charley Pride, student activities and organizations coordinator, informing members there had been allegations of hazing by the sorority.

Miller said Zeta Phi Beta is not appealing the probation from Western, but said members are appealing their suspension by the national headquarters.

Western levied its punishment at the end of last semester. It includes a one-year ban on new members and a two-year probation for Zeta Phi Beta.

Zeta Phi Beta’s national headquarters also informed Western this summer that all members of the Western chapter had been suspended for a period of three years, Pride said.

While all its members have been suspended, the university will still recognize Zeta Phi Beta as a student organization, Pride said.

“The charter is still in place,” Bailey said.

Pride said Zeta Phi Beta has been on the Hill for about 20 years. The organization could return to Western if the national headquarters seeks new membership.

“We would see if it benefited our university community,” he said.

Miller said the members were not concerned about missing campus activities, including the Step Show Saturday – an event they won last year.

“There’s always a possibility we’ll be back next year, so we’re not worried,” Miller said.

Reach Joseph Lord at [email protected].