NORTHRIDGE : Fraternity to Fight Sanctions Over Theft

The Cal State Northridge fraternity responsible for the theft of the historic San Fernando Mission bell in January plans to fight university-imposed disciplinary sanctions that members fear could shut down their organization, a spokesman said Wednesday.

In the wake of the bell theft by four Pi Kappa Alpha pledges, a panel of student representatives from CSUN fraternities on Feb. 20 banned the group for a year from recruiting new members, holding social activities and participating in other campus events, as well as imposing other sanctions.

“This really in my mind . . . is a death sentence for the organization,” said Wayne Adelstein, chapter alumni adviser to Pi Kappa Alpha. “No one is happy about this, least of all the alumni. But we really think the sanctions are way out of proportion with what is deserving.”

Leaders of the 64-member fraternity, the largest of CSUN’s 11 fraternities, insisted the group was unaware of the actions of the four pledges. Members called the episode a pledge prank that got out of hand.

Under campus rules, Pi Kappa Alpha has until the end of next week to appeal the sanctions to the campus’s all-student Interfraternity Council assembly. Adelstein said he expects the appeal will be filed next week. The council’s decision could be appealed again to a university administrator.

Adelstein said the 100-pound marker bell, one of 21 erected throughout the state in 1909 to mark the 700-mile route linking California’s missions, was taken from the San Fernando Mission on Jan. 4. It was discovered by the fraternity members at their Balboa Boulevard house on Jan. 22 and returned to the mission four days later.

The fraternity has placed the four pledges on probation and ordered them to pay about $1,700 in restitution to the mission, which decided not to press criminal theft charges. The fraternity has a tradition involving firetrucks and bells, which may have spurred the theft, Adelstein said.