Purdue News

February 14, 2000 Purdue suspends Gemini Cooperative until April WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University today (Monday, 2/14) placed Gemini Cooperative on suspension until April 1 because of an unauthorized New Year's Eve party in which alcohol was made available to minors at the house. The Dean of Students Office also ruled that the cooperative house could not participate in intramural athletics or sponsor any social functions until the start of the fall semester. Gemini has until Feb. 22 to appeal the decision to the Campus Appeals Board, which is made up of students, faculty and administrators. Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students, said that while on suspension, the Gemini Cooperative will continue to be a recognized student organization, but it will not be an organization in good standing. It may not use university facilities, including meeting rooms, and may not participate in intramural athletics or campus activities. Members may continue to use facilities, but not on behalf of the organization. The cooperative may not schedule any events requiring university approval. Also, each member of the cooperative must complete 10 hours of community service by April 1. He said the cooperative may petition the university for reinstatement after April 1, in which case it would be allowed to participate in the Grand Prix go-kart race in April. Earlier this month, the Gemini Cooperative voted to revoke the membership of the seven students who staged the party when the house was supposed to have been closed for semester break. Those seven students, the only members at the party, have moved out of the house at 172 Littleton St., leaving a membership of 35 students. In November 1998, Purdue suspended Gemini for hazing violations. That suspension, which was to have been lifted in December 1999, remained in place pending the outcome of the university's hearing about the party and now has been extended until April. In a letter to Gemini outlining the sanctions, Malavenda wrote: "It must be understood that during the period of suspension, Gemini Cooperative will continue to be under the jurisdiction of Purdue University. Failure to comply with established rules and regulations and to meet university standards will most likely result in a continuation of the suspension or the withdrawal of recognition. If recognition is withdrawn, the university will be obligated to notify the appropriate state tax officials that Gemini Cooperative no longer has a formal organizational connection with Purdue University." He also wrote: "I appreciate your cooperation throughout this ordeal and I hope that you take full advantage of this period of suspension to finally commit to changes within your house. ... After meeting with you and your officers, I am confident that you have the talent and support to make these adjustments." The Purdue Cooperative Council Judicial Board on Jan. 28 placed Gemini on probation because of the unauthorized New Year's Eve party .The board determined that although the Gemini officers did not sanction the party, they had failed to impress the significance of the cooperative social policies and regulations on its members and had failed to implement a proper shutdown procedure of the house during semester break. Malavenda said the university took into consideration that their peers had placed the house on probation and that the house had removed the seven members responsible for the party. Cooperatives are residential houses operated by the students, who contribute four to six hours of work a week to offset part of their housing cost. At Purdue, the cooperative council is made up of students from each of the 12 cooperatives. The council sets policy and rules on alleged violations. Both the cooperative council and the university have jurisdiction over the cooperatives. Source: Pablo Malavenda, (765) 494-1232 rpmalavenda@odos.purdue.edu Writer: Frank Koontz, (765) 494-2080; fkoontz@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page