Latest news with #PhiKappaTau
USA Today
11 hours ago
- General
- USA Today
LGBTQ+ students seek social networks, safety in fraternities and sororities
LGBTQ+ students seek social networks, safety in fraternities and sororities When Dylan Mason was an incoming freshman at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, his mom dropped him off at his dormitory with three earnest admonitions. 'She told me: Don't get a tattoo, don't get your ears pierced and don't join a fraternity,' chuckles Mason, 20, who recently finished his second year of college and his first year as a member of the fraternity Phi Kappa Tau. Mason, who identifies as gay, had never planned to join a fraternity. He changed his mind when he overhead members of another frat laughing at him. 'During winter recruitment, I was walking through the student center and heard a comment about me rushing. They thought it was funny. At the time, that really affected me,' Mason says. 'I wanted to prove them wrong. So, I made it my goal to join Greek life.' From that initial spite came genuine fellowship. 'My fraternity brothers are people who probably wouldn't have hung out with me in high school, but now they're some of my best friends,' says Mason, who is vice president of his fraternity. 'That's the beauty of diversity … even though I'm so different, I'm part of this community now — this brotherhood — and that's something I think a lot of gay people are lacking.' Greek inclusion growing Although fraternities and sororities have a history of homophobia, Greek life today is more diverse and inclusive than ever, observes Douglas N. Case, former coordinator of fraternity and sorority life at San Diego State University and an initiate of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. In studies of Greek life that he published in 1996 and 2007, Case observed a 'remarkable' shift in LGBTQ+ representation: In 1996, just 25% and 19% of LGBTQ+ men and women, respectively, said they were out to their Greek brothers and sisters. By 2007, 79% of LGBTQ+ participants in Greek life said they were out. 'Now it's 2025, and things have continued to evolve,' Case says Although she's careful to note her small sample size, Chana Etengoff found similar evidence of inclusion in a 2022 study of 50 LGBTQ+ students: 66% of LGBTQ+ participants in Greek life said their Greek experience was positive and 88% said Greek life contributed positively to their overall college experience, she reported. 'It was different than I would have expected,' says Etengoff, an associate professor of psychology at New York's Adelphi University. 'To me, the takeaway is that LGBTQ+ individuals are more complex than just their sexual or gender identities … just because you're LGBTQ+ doesn't mean you can't also be motivated to participate in Greek life.' 'A built-in community of lifelong friendships' A fraternity that perfectly embodies the benefits of Greek life for LGBTQ+ students is Delta Lambda Phi (DLP), which describes itself as a 'Greek organization started by gay men for all men.' Inclusive by design, founder Vernon L. Strickland III established it in 1987 to create an alternative social space for Queer men whose relationships were often predicated on sex. 'In the gay world, bars and hookup culture are very pervasive. And that's not a bad thing, but sometimes people want a little bit more,' says Brosnan Rhodes, who joined DLP in 2017 and currently serves as its trustee. 'Delta Lambda Phi offers a built-in community of lifelong friendships and bonds that you can plug into at any time in your life, anywhere you go.' And because DLP is Queer, the relationships its members create — for purposes of friendship, mentoring or professional networking — are inherently benign. 'In our community, it can be hard to get close to people because we don't always know who is safe,' Rhodes says. 'I love the fact that within our brotherhood, we can form bonds and connections without worrying whether a space is safe. Because we have a shared experience, I know that my brothers in every situation are going to treat me with the same kindness and respect that I'm going to give them.' Nearly 40 years after DLP's founding, other fraternities and sororities are carrying its torch of inclusion. At Indiana's DePauw University, for example, the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association recently drafted a joint statement of inclusion to which all fraternities and sororities have committed themselves, says Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students John Mark Day. The statement reads: 'The best version of Greek life is a community where everyone feels not just tolerated but welcomed to exist as their authentic self.' 'This is deeply personal for me,' Day says. 'As someone who is both gay and a member of a fraternity, I know that these spaces can be welcoming of students who are both figuring out and fully living their LGBTQ+ identities … I also know there's a business case for this. As students become more diverse and inclusive, the organizations that will thrive will be the ones that truly live their values of brotherhood and sisterhood.' DePauw's inclusion statement is a sign of progress across the Greek system. 'It used to be the case that maybe you had a gay-friendly chapter of a fraternity or sorority that folks would gravitate to. Now, inclusion is becoming more of a priority throughout the Greek community,' Day says. For pioneers like DLP, that progress is a 'double-edged sword,' according to Rhodes, who says DLP has only eight active chapters in 2025 along with three groups currently seeking chapter status as prospective brothers find acceptance in other, larger fraternities where they previously weren't welcome. 'When Delta Lambda Phi was formed, it was because gay men could not join traditional fraternities,' says Case, an honorary DLP member. 'That's not true anymore.' What about trans and nonbinary students? Clearly, organizations like DLP are no longer necessary for some LGBTQ+ students. For others, however, they're more relevant than ever. 'More organizations are accepting, but they may not be wholly accepting,' notes Rhodes, who says DLP membership among individuals who are gender-nonconforming, nonbinary and trans has 'dramatically increased' in recent years. 'There are many parts of our community that are still underrepresented in Greek life because they aren't the 'typical' gay person. But at DLP, we're still a safe space for those people. Given the high rates of suicide among transgender and nonbinary youth, safe spaces in the Greek system can be 'lifesaving,' according to Case. 'Homophobia, heterosexism and transphobia still exist, and they're even more prevalent in single-sex organizations. So, there's still work to be done,' he says. 'But we've come a long way, and I find that to be reassuring.' Progress is evident in individuals like D. Perez-Sornia, who was one of the first trans nonbinary members of the sorority Delta Phi Epsilon when they joined it in 2019 as a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt, in Arcata, California. 'Our core values as a sorority were justice, sisterhood and love. So being in a sorority exposed me to a group of women who were into the same things I was into and had the same values I had, and that gave me an opportunity for self-growth and identity formation that I really needed at that time,' explains Perez-Sornia, who says Greek life can be rewarding for people of all gender and sexual identities when they're fortunate enough to have inclusive brothers and sisters. 'You have to be smart and do your research to find out where you'll be accepted. But if I could join a sorority as a girl with a mustache, I think anybody can.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ceres grad remains hospitalized after paralyzing fall at UC Berkeley
A Central Valley High School graduate and current UC Berkeley student remains hospitalized and paralyzed after a 'tragic and devastating fall,' according to a family member's GoFundMe post. On April 19 during Cal Day — an open house event held to welcome newly admitted students — Bandna Bhatti fell from the external stairway at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house and struck her head, a family member told KTVU. KTVU also reported that Bhatti was found at the narrow passageway outside the fraternity house 15 minutes later and taken to her apartment. No one called 911 until around seven hours later. Bhatti suffered several injuries, including a brain hematoma, a tearing of the dura with spinal fluid leakage, a scapular and spinal fracture, the GoFundMe page says. She is currently paralyzed from the waist down. The fall occurred just days before Bhatti was set to graduate with a degree in data science. 'These injuries are not only life-altering but will require extensive and ongoing medical care, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, and specialized support to help her navigate this new chapter,' the GoFundMe page states. 'The journey ahead is extensive and demanding, but with your assistance, we hope to provide the vital resources she requires, specialized care, adaptive equipment and essential home modifications to help Bandna regain as much independence as possible.' The GoFundMe page, which is focused on helping Bhatti receive specialized care and handle medical expenses, has raised over $106,000 as of Tuesday morning. Baljinder Bhatti, Bandna's father, told The Bee on Monday that his daughter has no feeling and movement in her lower body. Matt Arnold, the chief executive officer for the National Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, said in a statement that the fraternity is cooperating with university officials and local authorities in the investigation of the incident 'We are deeply concerned by recent reports of an incident involving a young student who was reportedly injured near the Phi Kappa Tau chapter house at the University of California, Berkeley,' the statement read. 'We are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and are fully cooperating with the university officials and local authorities in their investigation.' Adam Ratliff, campus spokesperson, stated in an email to The Bee that the Berkeley Police Department also is investigating the incident. 'UC Berkeley is aware of an ongoing police investigation regarding reports of a student being injured off-campus near or at a fraternity. Our thoughts are with the student, their family, loved ones and friends during this time. We are following our protocols to offer support to the student and their family,' Ratliff wrote.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Who is Bandna Bhatti, Indian-origin US student who got paralyzed after falling at a frat house party?
A senior student of the University of California, Berkeley, , has been left paralyzed from her waist down after she fell from a metal staircase at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house during a party. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Indian-origin family has reached out for help on GoFundMe and raised over $97,000 for Bhatti's treatment. Her family is hopeful that she will be able to walk again. But the tragedy took place on April 29, weeks before her graduation in data science. How did Bandna fall? Why there's a police investigation going on The incident took place during the day when her frat house was hosting a party on 'Cal Day' when the campus is thrown open to prospective students. According to reports, Bhatti fell at least 12 feet from an external metal stairway hitting her head and landing in a narrow alleyway. She got a spinal fracture, a torn dura with leaking spinal fluid, a scapular fracture, and a brain hematoma. Laterm sge was diagnosed to have been paralyzed below the waist. Police investigation is going on as bhatti got medical treatment at least seven hours after the fall. For the first 15 minutes, she lay there undiscovered before being found by her friends. When they took her insider the fraternity house, the fraternity members told them to leave. With no one having any idea of the severity of her injuries, she was taken to a nearby apartment. It wasn't until seven hours after the incident that 911 was finally called. "Our beloved sister, Bandna, only 21 years old, was just three weeks away from graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Data Science - a milestone she had worked so hard for - when our world was turned upside down. She is now paralyzed from the waist down. These injuries are not only life-altering but will require extensive and ongoing medical care, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, and specialized support to help her navigate this new chapter," her family wrote in a statement on GoFundMe.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Indian-origin UC Berkeley student paralysed after fall at frat party
An Indian-origin University of California, Berkeley, student was left paralysed from the waist down after she fell from an external staircase during a fraternity party, just three weeks shy of graduating. Bandna Bhatti, 21, who was pursuing data science, was attending a gathering at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house on Cal Day, an annual open house event for incoming students and their families, when she slipped and fell from a metal staircase. The fall, estimated at about 12 feet, left her with severe injuries, including a spinal fracture, brain hematoma, and a torn dura (the protective membrane around the spinal cord) resulting in spinal fluid leakage. According to reports from California-based television station KTVU, Bhatti landed on her head in a back alley. She was found approximately 15 minutes later and brought inside, but was reportedly asked to leave soon after. Her friends, unaware of the gravity of her injuries, brought her back to her apartment. It was only seven hours later that emergency services were called. Bhatti remains hospitalised as her family, friends, and the wider UC Berkeley community rally around her. Her sister, Sonya Bhatti, launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign to assist with mounting medical costs. 'Our beloved sister, Bandna, only 21 years old… worked so hard. Then our world was turned upside down,' she wrote. 'We received the kind of call no family ever wants to get.' In a statement, UC Berkeley, said: 'Our thoughts are with the student, their family, loved ones and friends during this tough time. We are following our protocols to offer support.' An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Phi Kappa Tau CEO Matt Arnold also extended his sympathies. 'Our thoughts are with the individual and their loved ones during this challenging time,' he said in a statement. 'The health, safety and well-being of all individuals in our community remain our highest priority.' As Bhatti begins a long road to recovery, her friends recently participated in a half-marathon to raise funds, asking supporters to pledge $5 (Rs 421) per mile. 'Bandna is a brilliant, compassionate, and resilient young woman. Now, she faces a long and difficult road ahead,' read the fundraiser's description.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
College senior suffers 'life altering injuries' in horrific frat house incident just weeks before graduation
A student at UC Berkeley in California has been paralyzed from the waist down after falling from an outdoor staircase at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house. Just three weeks shy of graduating with a degree in Data Science, 21-year-old Bandna Bhatti had been welcoming prospective students to campus last month on 'Cal Day' when UC Berkeley throws open its doors for public tours. Shortly after 1pm on Saturday April 19 during the festivities, Phi Kappa Tau was hosting a party at its house on Piedmont Avenue in Berkeley. It was there Bhatti fell at least 12 feet from an external metal stairway, hitting her head and landing in a narrow alleyway beside the fraternity house. Bhatti injuries were catastrophic: a spinal fracture, a torn dura with leaking spinal fluid, a scapular fracture, and a brain hematoma. She also suffered broken bones and was later diagnosed to have been paralyzed below the waist. Despite the severity of her condition, Bhatti lay undiscovered for up to 15 minutes before being found and taken inside the fraternity house. But instead of calling for emergency assistance, her family says fraternity members told her friends to leave. Her companions then took her to her nearby apartment seemingly unaware that she had suffered grave internal injuries. It wasn't until almost seven hours later that 911 was finally called. 'She cannot walk. She cannot move her body,' her mother, Sukh Bhatti, told KTVU at Highland Hospital in Oakland, where Bandna remains in hospital. 'She's paralyzed, asking me questions - 'Can I graduate? Can I go to my graduation?'' Bhatti's mother has not left her bedside since the accident. 'It's just, I want my baby back. She's so happy and so lovely - strong lady.' Bandna's family released a public statement on a GoFundMe page that has been set up. 'Our beloved sister, Bandna, only 21 years old, was just three weeks away from graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Data Science - a milestone she had worked so hard for - when our world was turned upside down. She is now paralyzed from the waist down. Despite the trauma, Bandna's loved ones are holding onto hope 'These injuries are not only life-altering but will require extensive and ongoing medical care, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, and specialized support to help her navigate this new chapter,' they added. As of Sunday night the fundraising campaign raised more than $97,000 to support her long road to recovery, including the costs of adaptive equipment and home modifications. Matt Arnold, CEO of Phi Kappa Tau's national organization issued a statement. 'We are deeply concerned by recent reports of an incident involving a young student who was reportedly injured near the Phi Kappa Tau chapter house at the University of California, Berkeley. 'Our thoughts are with the individual and their loved ones during this challenging time. The health, safety, and well-being of all individuals in our community remain our highest priorities. We are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and are fully cooperating with university officials and local authorities.' UC Berkeley also acknowledged the seriousness of the incident. 'Our thoughts are with the student, their family, loved ones and friends during this time. We are following our protocols to offer support to the student and their family.' Berkeley Police have also launched an investigation into the timeline of events - particularly the decision not to call for the emergency services immediately. Authorities have not publicly stated whether any charges are being considered or if the university will impose disciplinary action. There have been similar incidents in recent years including fraternity-related deaths and injuries at universities across the country which have fueled debate about the accountability of Greek organizations and the response protocols at campus events. Bhatti's fall echoes those tragedies, but what sets this case apart is not just the horrific injury itself but the inaction that followed. Despite the trauma, Bandna's loved ones are holding onto hope. 'She will walk. I will make sure she walks. I'll do whatever it takes,' her mother vowed. Her sisters and close friends are rallying as well. Several ran a half-marathon on Sunday to raise additional funds for her recovery. The event has turned into a tribute of sorts, a public show of love and belief in her strength. A family spokesperson described Bandna as 'a brilliant, compassionate, and resilient young woman who has worked tirelessly toward her dreams.'
