The council, composed of students, faculty and staff, examined a November rush incident in which a minority student was photographed in a demeaning fashion and decided to pull UVM´s recognition of the fraternity for two years. This means it must cease all chapter activities, including pledge drives, social events and meetings for the duration.

UVM President Judith Ramaley said while she recognizes the Greek system at UVM has contributed to the community, this fraternity´s action were clearly misguided.

"It´s our responsibility to confront acts of discrimination and racism, whether they are intentional or unintentional," she said.

Fraternity members could not be reached for comment on the latest turn of events. The fraternity´s president, Jeff Hall, is out of town for the weekend, according to someone who answered the phone at the fraternity house on College Street on Saturday.

The number of students who are Acacia brothers is not clear. Their Website claims 14 members; university officials said they believe there are seven.

Last semester, after initially denying any racial incidents occurred, the fraternity apologized for the incident, which they said was part of a scavenger hunt with no racist intent. For the hunt, pledges were asked to spoof tensions between Iraq and the United States by photographing a pledge giving an obscene gesture to a person from Iraq. A golf club had been poised over the minority student´s head in the picture.

"We are sorry that we set in motion events that caused you pain. Although our intentions were not maliciously intended to cause harm to you or any one else, we realize that our actions had a negative effect on you," read the letter to the student. It and the letter to Dean Batt, vice president for UVM Student Affairs, were signed "The Brothers of Acacia Fraternity."

Dan Ferullo, a freshman from Northboro, Mass., who is not a member of a fraternity, said Saturday the punishment suits the crime. "As a frat, they are supposed to be social leaders - - they didn´t pull it, " Ferullo said. "UVM is making this big anti-racist effort and here you have some people who think this kind of thing is funny. That it´s acceptable. That it´s light enough to be a joke."

Public reports of the photograph led the fraternity to become the target of university-wide scorn. Shortly after being placed on suspension by UVM, more than 300 UVM students, faculty and staff protested on their lawn. Later, rocks were thrown through the windows of the house.

Now, the fraternity has a heavy penance to perform. All members must complete 50 hours of community service each year for a period of four years starting when it seeks to be recognized again and design and implement a four-year educational program that addresses policy violations.

John Bush, a UVM freshman from Denver, Colo., said he thought the incident could have been cause for upset, but it could have also been something blown out of proportion. "I didn´t care enough to find out," he said.

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