Alpha Delta Epsilon (ΑΔΕ) is a local, co-ed social fraternity founded at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

History

Alpha Delta Epsilon was founded in 1966, after the Alpha Mu chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho (ΑΓΡ) parted ways with the national. The chapter, which owned the fraternity house, then re-organized itself as a local fraternity. Due to this sequence of events, the fraternity properly belongs to the chapter, and not vice-versa, as is normally the case.

In the 1980s, Alpha Delta Epsilon pledged female members and became a co-ed fraternity.

Derecognition

In February of 1988, a pledge at the Rutgers University chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity died in a hazing incident. This event and a subsequent prosecution was significant enough to be reported in the New York Times that Spring.

To combat the bad press, Rutgers University promulgated stricter rules on alcohol consumption on campus. The university also banned the pledging of first-semester Freshmen, and ordered all fraternities to destroy their bars. Alpha Delta Epsilon had a fieldstone-and-mortar bar that could not be easily dismantled. It refused to comply without fair compensation for the removal. As a result of its non-compliance, the fraternity was derecognized in 1989.

Links and references

www.alphadeltaepsilon.org (unofficial website)

Alpha Mu Chapter History Alpha Gamma Rho website

Rutgers Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs

Tragedy brings community together (The Daily Targum)