The Dartmouth College fraternity that inspired “Animal House” won’t be partying anymore.
Alpha Delta lost an appeal to stay on campus after it was accused of branding its pledges with hot pokers in the buttocks, the Hanover, N.H., college said Friday. The school’s rejection of the appeal marks the end of the road for the frat’s efforts to stay open.
The frat came under fire after a sophomore went to a doctor because his brand became infected over winter break, according to a tipster.
The Ivy League school decided to sever all ties with Alpha Delta in a campus judiciary committee meeting last month. The frat, which had previously been suspended for a different infraction, will likely lose its on-campus house among other privileges of being a student organization.
George Ostler, an attorney for Alpha Delta, has said members chose to brand themselves as a form of self-expression, like with body piercings and tattoos, and the practice was never mandatory.
The fraternity has since stopped burning its name into members, Ostler said.
He did not immediately comment on Friday’s decision.
Alpha Delta was previously disciplined for hazing, serving alcohol to minors and hosting unregistered parties.
“Animal House,” the 1978 cult-classic starring John Belushi, was based off of one of the screenwriters’ experiences with Alpha Delta while at Dartmouth.
Alpha Delta is just one of a number of fraternities that have been shut down recently as more attention has been shined on alleged rape, racism and sexism at ones across the country.
In just the last week, a University of Florida frat was shut down over allegations its members drunkenly yelled at and spat on disabled veterans and four members of a University of Kansas frat were kicked out over a video mocking Muslims.
In March, the University of Oklahoma shut down Sigma Alpha Epsilon after a video surfaced of members singing a racist chant.
The same month, Washington and Lee University suspended Phi Kappa Psi for three years after a member allegedly using a stun gun on a new recruit.
Dartmouth has been trying to revamp its fraternity system and announced in January that hard liquor is now banned on campus.
With News Wire Services
