Delta Sigma Phi: Hazing and Unique Chapter Privileges
In January 2012, Robert began pledging Delta Sig (Delta Zeta Chapter) at High Point University (HPU). Delta Sig authorizes the members of its local chapters to exclusively conduct the pledge and initiation processes. Delta Sig, while maintaining authority to discipline individual members and chapters for violations, normally relies on chapter officers to relay Delta Sig’s policies on hazing and alcohol to the pledges and further relies on chapter officers to enforce those policies.
At the time, Michael Qubein (son of HPU President Nido Qubein) was the Pledge Educator (e.g. Pledge Master) of Robert’s pledge class. Michael was the Delta Sig Chapter officer responsible for conducting Delta Sig’s pledge program at HPU. In his role as Pledge Educator, Qubein was tasked with maintaining a positive New Member Education Program through prohibition of hazing. There is no record Michael received training for this role. Michael claims he knew Delta Sig had a definition for ‘hazing’ but was not sure what it was.
The pledge process for Robert’s pledge class began with bid night. On bid night, Robert and fellow pledges were put in a room, given a trash can, and each handed a bottle of hard liquor. They were told to drink the liquor until they had consumed all of it.
Soon after bid night, Robert began expressing concern and anxiety about the hazing he and his pledge brothers were experiencing. Between February 19 and March 15, 2012, Robert confided in friends that “hazing is the least fun” aspect of the pledge process; that Delta Sigma members “are hazing us like a mother fucker”, and that the hazing “….doesn’t seem worth it bc I’m being mind fucked continuously.”
Robert was the pledge class president, having been elected by his fellow pledges. As pledge class president, one of his responsibilities included communicating instructions/orders from Michael Qubein to his fellow pledges.
On March 15, 2012, Robert wrote to a fellow Delta Sig pledge on Facebook to ask if he was “ready for tonight … apparently a rough meeting.” When the fellow pledge wondered “what tonight will entail in our meeting,” Robert responded, “at worst its 2 hrs. what could they do that’s so bad in two hours.” When the pledge answered, “ha-ha a lot of shit,” Robert offered the following reassurance: “they’re just going to yell at us a bunch and maybe make us work out or eat something nasty, they can‘t kill us.”
In communicating to friends and family, Robert was less outwardly confident about his physical safety and well-being at Fraternity pledge events. On February 22, 2012, Robert confided in his mother that he was “getting hazed bad now and need Xanax. I didn’t even sleep last night and was shaking.” Robert pleaded with his mother, “Don’t text Michael (Qubein). Don’t ever text him about that tho.” On March 22, 2012, he complained to a friend that “hazing is horrible.”
Text Message Exchange
Robert also expressed concerns to his sister, Mary, that he would be punished by Delta Sig members. On March 12, 2014, Robert had the following text message exchange with his sister:
Robert: “I’m going to kill Stacey” (Note: Stacey Meyer was a purported friend of Robert’s and girl friend of Delta Sig member Dave Matheny)
Mary: “What happened ????”
Robert: “Don’t talk to the brothers during this time period…I’m in a lot of trouble apparently bc of some thing Stacey said.
Mary: “Shit what did she say? Robert??”
Robert: “I was upset one night and said I was stressed and she told Dave (Matheny) that I told her I’m stressed. That’s enough to fuck me over. And one other thing I can’t say. I can’t trust anyone right now.”
Mary: “Robert I promise I won’t ever say anything you told me! Bo was texting me last night and I didn’t say a thing.”
Robert: “Not a thing Mary. Like nothing. Stacey may have really fucked me over.”
— — — — — — — — – — — — — – — — — — – — — – –
Mary: “You in trouble”
Robert: “Don’t know. I don’t think it was stacey’s fault tho. She just needs to be careful. I don’t think she realized how weird they are about stuff. I’m probably not going to get punished tho. As long as it doesn’t happen again……Just don’t tell anybody what I said over break. Even delete this text just now.
Dateline Full Episode: The Crossing
Robert Tipton, a happy-go-lucky student at High Point University, is found unconscious and later pronounced dead by accidental overdose. But Robert’s family starts to question what really happened.
Hazing of Robert and Pledge Brothers by Delta Sig
Robert’s anxiety and fears were not unwarranted. A member of Robert’s pledge class provided detailed testimony about the severe hazing he, Robert and their fellow pledges were subjected to in the weeks leading up to Robert’s death. According to Robert’s fellow pledge, the hazing was overseen and directed by Michael (Qubein), and involved activities carried out in various locations, including Qubein’s private residence and the private residences of other Fraternity members. Robert’s fellow pledge has testified that Robert and other pledges were, among other things, hooded with pillow cases; paddled; isolated in separate rooms where Fraternity members would drive their knees in the pledges’ backs, quiz them about Fraternity history and yell at them if they answered the questions incorrectly. The testifying pledge stated he considered some of the activities Robert, he and his pledge brothers had to participate in during pledge process to be hazing. The hazing was ongoing at the time of Robert’s death.
His testimony also included details regarding “hell week”, which took place after Robert’s death. The pledges were forced to stay at Michael’s off-campus residence for three to four days, where they were deprived of sleep and forced to do calisthenics to the point of exhaustion.
When asked whether pledges were pressured by Fraternity members to use hard drugs, including cocaine, with them, or forced by Fraternity members to consume alcohol to the point of extreme intoxications, the testifying pledge invoked his Fifth Amendment Right against self-incrimination and, on the advice of counsel, declined to answer.
A 2012 graduate of HPU and a Delta Sig pledge during the same time Michael Qubein was pledging provided a detailed affidavit of the hazing which occurred at the hands of Delta Sig. Read this affidavit for insight on the hazing activities at the Delta Sig fraternity.
The on-campus frat house for Delta Sig was the site of many out of control parties involving drugs, alcohol, fights and injuries. According to witnesses and attendees, the Delta Sig frat house was known as a very safe place to acquire and use drugs and alcohol.The safe place connotation was largely due to Michael Qubein’s status as a member of Delta Sig. HPU police officers provided affidavits attesting to the ‘hands-off’ policy they were required to follow with respect to the Delta Sig house.
HPU police officers were told by their Chief (Karpovich) and Student Life that they were to look the other way when it came to Michael Qubein and Delta Sig.Here’s a sampling of the information provided directly from the sworn affidavits of two HPU police supervisors and a HPU patrol officer with respect to the Delta Sig fraternity and frat house during the period leading up to Robert’s death:
- “From the time I was first hired, we were told by training officers that the students always had the final word in any dispute with us officers.”
- “Student Life responded to the scene where I was already present. They informed that I should let the matter go and that they would handle. This happened a lot, particularly with Mr. (Michael) Qubein, because he was Dr. Qubein’s son.”
- “At times I tried to reason with some of the (Delta Sig) fraternity members who were more sober in an effort to keep the violence down. I was later told by Mr. Karpovich (HPU Police Chief) that I should not do this and should not even get out of the car.”
- “I was afraid that something like a death from fraternity violence could occur. I even told my bosses at nearly every staff meeting that if we didn’t change “one of these days were are going to put one of these kids in an ambulance and they are not going to come back”.”
- One of the reasons that I resigned from High Point was Mr. Tipton’s death and the surrounding culture that resulted in that unfortunate death.”
- At High Point University, I was told by my bosses that Dr. Qubein’s son and his friends were to be treated differently than other students. In particular, that we were not to write them up for charges. Instead, any issue was to be referred to ‘student life’.” This was a different set of rules than what was in place for other students.
- In particular, Mr. Karpovich (HPU Police Chief), told me that “if there is a problem with Michael Qubein, tell me & I will deal with it”.” This rule was in place for Mr. Qubein’s fraternity, Delta Sig, but not other fraternities on campus. I witnessed problems with alcohol and drugs from Michael Qubein and his friends and there was nothing we as security were permitted to do about it.
- Delta Sig had carte blanche to do what they want on campus and they carried an attitude that they could get away with anything.
- All these students had to do was complaint to Student Life and if they did so then whatever activity security was doing to protect others was stopped cold.
- Both myself and others in security repeatedly warned our supervisor (Karpovich) that this was dangerous and that someone would eventually get hurt.
- At High Point University, I was told by my bosses that Dr. Qubein’s son and his fraternity were to be treated differently than other students. In particular, that we were not to write them up for charges. Instead, any issue was to be referred to ‘student life’. There was a different set of rules than what was in place for other students.
- In particular, Mr. Karpovich and Gayle Tuttle (HPU Vice President for Student Life) specifically told me that if there were any problems with Delta Sig they were to brought to their attention only. This rule was in place for Mr. (Michael) Qubein’s fraternity, Delta Sig, but not other fraternities on campus.
- By way of example, one day I witnessed a keg party on campus hosted by (Michael) Qubein. Kegs were not permitted on campus and he was in clear violation of this rule. There was nothing I could do about it.
- Mr. (Michael) Qubein and the Delta Sigs had this attitude that they were above the rules and they knew full well that there was nothing we could do about it. Both myself and others in security repeatedly warned our supervisor that this was dangerous and that someone would eventually get hurt.
- Once I became a supervisor, I received these complaints and passed them on to my own supervisor (Karpovich). From what I witnessed, nothing was done about it. Eventually, I had enough and could not work in this type environment given the dangers this created for myself and others. As such, I resigned in September, 2012.
Having to assume virtually no accountability for their actions, it is not surprising this group of young men were able to escalate their contempt for policies and the law to ever new levels. One has to wonder, if members of the Delta Sig chapter had been held accountable at some point for their reckless drug and alcohol induced behavior, could the death of Robert Tipton been avoided. We believe absent the unchecked conditions and environment which fueled the Delta Sig fraternity in 2012, Robert would be alive today.
Do you have information regarding the case?
A $100,000.00 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for Robert’s death. If you have any information, please contact us at 866-760-0028.