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BLOOMSBURG — In 1999, Gamma Epsilon Omicron received the heftiest punishment Bloomsburg University dolls out to Greek organization. In 2001, GEO is still going strong.
On Nov. 5, 1999, a party held at the GEO house on North Street was attended by approximately 200 people. Police raided the party and cited over 90 alleged underage drinkers. On Dec. 2, 1999 GEO received notice that university had revoked their official recognition.
To Bloomsburg University, GEO no longer existed.
Strangely enough, two years after being disowned by the university, GEO is bigger than ever. They have the reputation as one of the largest social fraternities in Bloomsburg. They exist just as they have for years, despite the fact that the university does not recognize them.
Being unrecognized means that GEO is no longer allowed to participate in rush, pledging activities on campus, or use any of the university’s facilities for their social functions. It means that, to the university, GEO is not an official fraternity. It also means that they’re not subject to the rules and regulations that recognized Greek organizations are.
“We’re not going against the system,” Mancuso said. “[The university has] their rules, but as of right now we don’t apply.”
John Luchansky, a former GEO brother wrote a letter to the editor to The Voice shortly after GEO was dismissed from the Greek community. In his letter he stated, “regardless of the school’s decision to revoke their affiliation to us, we are still a fraternity. That will never change.”
“I don’t think that will change,” Mancuso said in response to the statement. “We will still be our own just like any other fraternity.”
Currently, GEO has 39 brothers, 11 of which live in their house on North Street. Last semester they initiated eight new brothers, however, they have no pledges this semester. On average, they see between five and 50 men at rush, according to Mancuso.
“I’d say we’re one of the biggest fraternities on campus,” Mancuso said. “This semester is the biggest since I’ve been here.”
GEO was founded at Bloomsburg University in 1986. The 1999 bust hasn’t been the group’s only black mark. The group became a chapter of Delta Chi, a national fraternity, for one semester in 1994.
On April 16, 1994, Delta Chi held a house party attended by brother Terry Lee Linn. Linn, 21, was seen drinking heavily at the party. He returned to Luzerne Hall where he was later found unresponsive. Friends rushed him to the emergency room, but he died of alcohol poisoning that had stopped his breathing. Linn’s Blood Alcohol Level was .40. Delta Chi lost their recognition due to the death, and the brothers regrouped under the name GEO once again.
Despite being officially ousted from the Greek community here, GEO has remained active. They also feel they have the backing of the fraternities and sororities. They don’t consider themselves the “black sheep” of the Greek community.
“We still hang out with the other fraternities and sororities,” Mancuso said. “We go over to their houses and they come to see us.”
They also remain active in the party scene.
“I always hear about parties at GEO,” freshman Kristen Leibig said. “They walk up and down the halls and write about parties on people’s doors.”
GEO even participated openly in the AIDS walk wearing their letters, against the university’s policy for unrecognized fraternities.
“That’s one of the crossroads we’re at,” said Linda Sowash, Director of Residence Life. “They don’t have any rules to follow. They can do what they want, so why should they stay in the group?”
A poll conducted on The Voice website showed that 68 percent of readers feel that Greek organizations don’t benefit from being recognized by the university. However, GEO is still interested in regaining their recognition with the university.
“Most of the guys in the frat now weren’t even involved with the party,” Callahan said. “Everyone makes mistakes, and I feel bad for the younger guys who can’t be recognized. It’s not their fault.”
“I’ve been to parties here three times the size of ours,” Mancuso said. “It’s a fact that every fraternity and sorority parties, so I don’t know why it’s a shock that we had one.”
Due to the current keg policy, however, it is almost impossible for them to do so.
“I don’t agree with the keg policy,” Mancuso said. “I don’t think its fair to Greeks. Other groups are allowed to have kegs in their houses, its only Greeks that can’t. That discriminates against us.”
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