WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University on Friday (Sept. 25) suspended Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity for three months for violating university regulations and the Interfraternity Council Risk Management policy on alcohol consumption.

Phi Kappa Theta, Indiana Zeta Chapter, Purdue University

The suspension will last through Dec. 31, at which time the fraternity chapter can petition the Office of the Dean of Students for reinstatement, said Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students. If the suspension is lifted, the Phi Kaps would remain on probation until Dec. 31, 2010, at which time a petition could be made to be reinstated to full status.

A university investigation concluded that: After an initial verbal warning on Aug. 18, the chapter continued to operate a Facebook account inviting individuals to parties at the chapter house; the chapter later coordinated an event at which alcohol was provided to minors.

Although the fraternity will maintain a formal connection with the university while under suspension, the chapter is not entitled to: participate in programs with other recognized student organizations; participate in university-sponsored activities; participate in intramural athletics as an organization; use university logos, trademarks and name; and is not eligible for awards through Purdue, regional or national associations and the fraternity’s national headquarters.

“Unfortunately, the chapter chose to disregard the policies and regulations of both Purdue University and the Interfraternity Council,” said Kyle A. Pendleton, assistant dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life. “Our hope is that Phi Kappa Theta will work cooperatively with the university to fulfill the requirements of the sanction, thus avoiding further sanctions.”

In order for the fraternity to regain Purdue recognition, the chapter must abide by the following terms:

• The chapter must submit a development program and receive approval from national headquarters and advisers each semester of the suspension and probation.
• Each semester of the suspension and probation, in consultation with the Office of the Dean of Students, the chapter must plan an alcohol education program. Each member and associate member must participate.
• At least 50 percent of the chapter must attend the 2009 Indiana Greek Leadership Conference in November.
• Chapter members and alumni volunteers must work with national headquarters to establish a plan for continuous improvement of the chapter and its programs. It must adopt all national Phi Kappa Theta initiatives and risk management practices.

The chapter must follow all university regulations, state and federal laws and Phi Kappa Theta requirements.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — In honor of International Credit Union Day (October 15, 2009), Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) invites local high-school students to showcase their creative talents in a video contest for a chance to win up to $500.

To enter the “It’s My Money. It’s My Choice. I Choose PEFCU Because…” contest, high-school students should create a 30-second to two-minute video that illustrates their reason for banking with PEFCU. Contestants should upload their videos by Monday, October 5, by going to www.youtube.com/group/pefcucontest, selecting “Join Group” then “+Submit a video”.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three videos: $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $100 for third place. Winning videos cannot name any other financial institution by name and must be created by PEFCU members.

Contestants should view the complete contest rules and regulations at www.facebook.com/pefcu before submitting their entries.

For additional questions, individuals may contact Cynthia Longoria at clongoria@purdueefcu.com or 765.497.7441.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University officials are urging students, faculty and staff to sign up to receive emergency notification text messages for situations that pose a threat to campus community safety.

The Purdue Alert system has the ability to send campuswide e-mails, text messages to those who have signed up to receive them, post to Facebook and the Purdue home page, notify media and residence hall officials, Boiler TV, and trigger outdoor sirens.

Those who have already signed up and have changed cell phone numbers should update their information, said Carol Shelby, senior director of environmental health and public safety.

“We will only activate Purdue Alert text messaging when we determine there is an immediate threat to public safety,” Shelby said. “In situations in which all parties involved are accounted for and it is determined there is no threat, we won’t activate text alerts. The notification system will only be activated in appropriate situations because we don’t want people to become complacent when an alert is issued.”

Thus far, more than 32,000 people have signed up to receive text messages. To register, go to http://www.purdue.edu/securepurdue, click on “Change My Emergency Contact Number,” enter your Purdue account name and password, and enter your cell phone number.

Text messaging is one layer of a multilayered Purdue Alert system used to notify the campus community to emergency situations that could place people in immediate danger. The system includes the potential for campuswide e-mailing, text messaging to those who have signed up to receive them, posting to Facebook and the Purdue home page, notifications to media and residence hall officials, Boiler TV, and outdoor sirens.

All or a portion of the communication layers could be used during an emergency, Shelby said. She noted several factors in determining when to activate Purdue Alert and what layers to activate, such as whether there is a direct threat to the Purdue community, time of day, and other circumstances.

To help decide the most appropriate response, Purdue has established three emergency incident levels, depending on the specific circumstances.

Level 3 is a minor, localized incident. Warning notifications will occur as time permits. Level 2 is a major incident or potential threat that disrupts sizable portions of the campus. Mass e-mail, text-messaging, the Purdue home page and Facebook, Boiler TV, and notification to residence halls and media could be used, depending upon the severity and the situation.

Level 1 is a major disaster or imminent threat involving the entire campus and/or surrounding community, and all alert notifications, including sirens, could be used.

During emergencies near campus, West Lafayette and Purdue police are in close contact and exchange information, Shelby said. The decision whether to activate Purdue Alert and how to send the message is made by Purdue’s public safety officials.

More information about the alert system can be found at the Purdue Emergency Preparedness Web site, http://www.purdue.edu/emergency_preparedness/. “Your Campus, Your Safety” also provides information on campus safety at http://www.purdue.edu/police/pdf/YourCampus_2009.pdf

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Teams of Purdue University students have created an online teacher resource for utilizing Web 2.0 technologies like Facebook, Google Docs, Flickr and Twitter in K-16 classrooms.

Timothy Newby, professor of educational technology, charged the students of the “Introduction to Educational Technology and Computing” class with investigating 34 different Web 2.0 technologies and figuring out how to put them to use in a classroom. Each team, which included members in Turkey and Korea, then developed an online resource, or “wiki chapter,” for teachers that detailed how to use the application.

“I wanted them to learn about applying Web 2.0 technologies within a learning situation. They actually did this by developing the wiki chapters,” Newby said. “Moreover, they used various types of online discussions, videoconferences and so on to work with partners in other countries. They also learned what a team effort is all about. Working under these conditions wasn’t always easy, but it was amazing to me how the project managers got their teams organized and motivated and how they executed their plans. This is a skill that these students can directly use in their future occupations.”

Including students in Turkey and Korea enabled Newby to incorporate an international component by using videoconferencing equipment and electronic discussion boards.

“Our Korean partners have been instrumental in the development of this project, and I think what I have enjoyed the most is watching the entire group work together, create an amazing project and move forward in such a cooperative fashion,” said Ashley Robbins, a student in the class.

“Within Purdue and also the College of Education, we have a strong desire for our students to gain a more global perspective about the world in which they live,” Newby said. “One direct way to do that is to work on a common problem with others who can bring a different perspective. It is always a benefit for our students to see different perspectives and viewpoints.”

As part of this assignment, the teams will present their findings at the International Network of Students Investigating Technologies for Education (INSITE) event set for 6-9 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 4). This showcase of student work will be in Stewart Center, Room 310, on the Purdue campus. The event is free and open to the public. Provost Randy Woodson will kick off the showcase at 6:30 p.m.

“They have created a great, useable product,” Newby said. “This wiki repository will be something that people all over the world will be able to access and use. If you want to know about the application of Web 2.0 technologies within education, the EDCI 270 Purdue wiki will be the place to access and use as a valuable resource. These students were the ones who developed the first version, and it is something they can be proud of.”

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police are warning of a potential advanced fee scam involving the online purchase of personal items.

According to police, a student advertised a DVD player for sale for $175 on his Facebook account. A short time later, the student received an e-mail from a person who wanted to buy it and send payment by mail.

“The e-mailer told the student he would receive a check for $2,850, and that the student was to deposit the check, take $175 out for the purchase of the DVD player and an extra $30 for himself,” Lt. Fred Davis said. “When he received the check, the student deposited it into his checking account, then sent $2,400 via Western Union to where he was told to do so.”

Afterward, the student checked his bank account and noticed he was overdrawn, Davis said.

“In these types of cases, the bank will determine that the original check was bogus in about 24 hours, and the person who made the bank transaction then becomes liable for the full amount of the bad check” Davis said.

Davis said people should never take part in a transaction involving an overage payment.

“Anytime a seller receives a check for more than the purchase price, that should be a big tip of a scam,” he said.

Davis said anyone who suspects a scam can go online to the Internet Crime Complaint Center Web site http://ic3.gov to report it and for information on current scams taking place

Anyone who has been contacted about making such a transaction should report it to Purdue police at (765) 494-8221.