NBC news has reported that the college police department found the Kappa Delta Rho was allegedly running a secret members only Facebook page and allegedly posted explicit images of female students in unconscious state. The college police department filed a search warrant on 30th Jan, 2015 after being tipped by a former fraternity member. NBC affiliate WJAC reported on Monday that the private groups were accessible to around 144 people who were current members as well as the alumni. The college police affidavit alleges that one of the hidden groups called “Covert Business Transactions” was shut down, when a female victim found a topless photo of herself posted to the group and threatened the taking the fraternity to university authorities. The affidavit states that after period of eight months the fraternity created another secret Facebook group called “2.0.” The informant who tipped the college police was a member of 2.0 group and he turned over his Facebook account to the State College Police so that they could raid the group before the fraternity shut down the account and deleted the incriminating photos. The warrant said that after raiding the 2.0 group, the police downloaded and printed out about 20 photos of “nude females who appeared to be passed out … or in other explicit or embarrassing positions.” Other images downloaded by them showed sales of various drugs and banned substances. The police affidavit notes that despite getting the warrant and searching several computers in addition to the 2.0 group they found that the fraternity members had deleted all the files on the group and computers. School spokesman L. Reidar Jensen told NBC News that the Penn State Interfraternity Council sent a cease and desist letter to the fraternity on 3 March, based on the “appalling” evidence: “The evidence offered by the Facebook postings is appalling, offensive and inconsistent with the University community’s values and expectations,” the letter notes. In addition to the suspension the fraternity members of Kappa Delta Rho will be facing charges of invasion of privacy and harassment which if proved can land the fraternity members in some serious prison time. As of now no arrests have been made and the police said they were still investigating. The State College Assistant Police Chief John Gardner issued a letter to the victims to get in touch with the authorities for providing further evidence and counselling. The Daily Collegian reported that the college police has placed Kappa Delta Rho’s national headquarters on a one-year suspension while the Penn State chapter will also undergo a full membership review and reorganization. At this point, we are looking for any potential victims to come forward and contact the State College Police Department to help with prosecution and so we can provide any type of victims services for anyone victimized at the fraternity. The suspension means that the fraternity is banned from hosting or organizing any social, philanthropic or intramural sporting events and also the new members are prohibited from visiting the chapter house.
