Ah, the solemnity of pledging loyalty to a band of brothers and embracing the traditions of Greek life in a sober, memorable ceremony.

Or, as at Psi Upchuck Upsilon in Ann Arbor and countless fraternities on campuses everywhere except maybe Utah, the spirited intoxication of channeling John Blutarsky and his Delta Tau Chi buds at Faber College.

Too much of the latter lands Psi Up at UM in the penalty box. The chapter, which has about 120 members, is expelled from the campus' Interfraternity Council and under investigation by an adult from its national headquarters, student reporter Chelsea Hoedl tells readers of The Michigan Daily.     

The reason:  A pledge was served so much booze at a Psi Up event before St. Patrick's Day weekend that he was rushed to a hospital with what Hoedl calls "a lethally high blood alcohol content." This isn't the house's first misstep, according to the Interfraternity Council.  

Results include a two-day chapter visit from Dean Vernon Wormer Thomas J. Fox, executive director at Psi Upsilon's headquarters in Indianapolis. Just over a decade ago, he was a member of the same frat at the University of Illinois, serving as rush chair, social chair and pledge educator.

Now he's all business, delivering facts to The Michigan Daily in what sounds like a Jack Webb-like approach:


John Belushi as John Blutarsky in "Animal House" (1978)."

"A young man was transported to the hospital after a party at a location outside of the chapter house on the evening of March 14. He was intoxicated and the chapter supposedly had supplied him with the alcohol.

"The chapter is not allowed to hold any events or activities. No recruitment, no new member education, they aren't even supposed to be having chapter meetings. The fraternity still has their meals and people still live there, but while this investigation is going on and while we gather facts, they're not supposed to be holding any additional activities."

Separately, UM's Interfraternity Council booted Psi Up three days ago for "recurring safety violations and poor risk-management."

That image is differs distinctly from a lyrical one at the frat's national website, which speaks of how the brothers' "bond provides the foundation which enables the college student to become a poised and self-confident adult."

Sounds good in theory.