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UT Frat Kicks Ass, Gets In Trouble

One of UT's more infamous fraternities is in hot water again, this time as the defendant in a civil lawsuit over assault charges.

21-year-old Michael Austin Presley was allegedly assaulted at a Phi Gamma Delta party on July 7, during which he claims he was beaten and kicked by fraternity member Bryan Kniepp. Presley was left with broken bones in his right eye socket and nose.

Not much else is known about the case; the Statesman reports that UT officials and members of the fraternity were unavailable for comment.

Back in March, flyers were circulated around UT campus that purported to be "pledge rules" for members of Phi Gamma Delta, otherwise referred to as "Fijis." The hilarious list included such gems as "No Mexicans," "NO FAGETRY," and, oddly enough, "No Cat Walk." Naturally, representatives of the fraternity were quick to scream "libel!", pointing out that the organization had—count 'em—two whole Hispanic members.

Back in 1990, the group was caught distributing t-shirts emblazoned with racist messages. More recently, in 2002 they hosted a Halloween event during which several party-goers were photographed wearing "racially insensitive" costumes.


Pirates in Milan Break (Alleged) Fiji "No Cat Walk" Policy


Photo of flyer by Prentiss Riddle on flickr. Bottom image from this site.

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Comments [rss]

  • TexasLonghorns101
    All I have to say about Fiji... I drive a $65,000 car. Am part of one of the wealthiest families in America, have basically everything a guy could dream of, every polo known to man, and would have dropped a $100,000 check for their new building. WITH ALL THAT SAID, their rush captain will not even return my text messages/phone calls because he doesn't know who I am apparently... I will take my check elsewhere I suppose? Thanks Fiji.


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    really like your blog,I hope you can continue to keep well.


  • Scooby

    #46- If you think playing the Hitler card and equating ridicule with "hate" constitute a "clear, logical argument", then you need to give us a call back after you've finished your freshman philosophy class. There's not a post you've made that isn't one logical fallacy piled on top of another. Also, if you want nothing but "clear, logical arguments," a local news & entertainment blog that allows anonymous snark might be the wrong place to look.



    BTW, if you're going to be a intertubes tough guy and "call [me] out", sac up and at least do it from a unique alias, not as a guest.





    Milkman, every generation has its idiots. These ones are no worse than those in the past. On the bright side, many of them from your generation will be neutered by technology (unlike those in the past). 15 or 20 years hence, keep an eye out for election mudslinging that includes videos of political candidates, along with their "brothers", gang-sodomizing passed-out high school girls at frat parties. In the old days, most frat boys had the sense to keep their indiscretions semi-quiet; now they post videos online.

  • guest

    maybe he's seen enough movies to know that



    Silence is Golden

  • guest

    Scooby are you going to offer a retort for that guy (me) that totally made you look like a fool and called you out by asking you to please offer us some sort of clear, logical argument for your overly enthusiastic opinions? You seem like a smart guy that's got lots to say, so let's hear it.



    Or are you incapable of that?

  • guest

    check out bryan's new face book photos @ www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/...... ones in the striped shirt and silver bracelets...hmmm..criminal assault...looking at 1 yr in the slammer, maybe more. since he likes to do things from behind, he'll make quick friends with Leroy and Rufus...

  • The_Milkman

    America's future...



    I'm ashamed these idiots are in my generation.

  • oh steph

    #38 - are you serious? that's the funniest comment I have ever seen on Austinist.

  • Scooby

    So the assault was justified. Some anonymous person claiming to be a witness says so. It wasn't random assault & battery; it was vigilantism. That makes it much better.



    Maybe Micheal didn't know about that other rule that wasn't on the list- only Fijis are allow to drop a roofie in chicks' drinks at the Fiji house.

  • guest

    The cat walk is a metal structure with railing sides. It's not something the frat guys built. its a part of the house. you can't look up anyones skirts. Talk about something you know about. Just because you cant get into the fiji, or SAE, or any other decent fraternity house doesn't mean you need to come down on them.

  • guest

    and if you say ho-houses one more time because you are clearly an ugly ass bitch jealous of sorority girls then either youre a straight fag, or, yourre a fat ass bitch.

  • guest

    Yall tools have no idea what you are talking about. I go to the Fiji house all the time, and Bryan is one of my good friends. I saw that jackass michael drop roofies into a girls drink and thats why Kniepp punched him. once. It's too bad that tool can't take a punch even though he's twice Bryan's size, and 3 years older. Maybe he shouldn't lie next time and people might take him seriously.

  • guest

    you must be so embarrassed you wrote this article. "Cat Walk" does NOT mean models going down a stage walk. At fiji there's an extended balcony they call the "cat walk". Thats so embarrassing you published this.

  • guest

    #36, could you at least agree that ALL frats have voluntarily joined (with most of them PAYING for the opportunity) an organization with a reputation of being elitist, racist, and homophobic, and that these particular guys felt like it was a good use of their organization’s money to build a catwalk for the apparent sole purpose of offering members on the ground a cheap look up the skirts of their houseguests. We could then leave it to individual interpretation whether or not that meets the strict definition of "lame".

  • guest

    What was being compared was the common method through which a judgement was formed. (completely un-analytically and without valid reasoning)



    None of you that hate all Greek people are in a position to do so, just like Hitler was in no position to judge an entire group of people.



    I'm sure we have all met a lot of Frat people we don't like for a variety of reasons. What is being said is that it is illogical to then associate their being in a frat as the reason they are dislikable.



    I have met a lot of black people I didn't like, but I don't think all black people are assholes. I know a lot of artists that are so self infatuated it makes me sick, but I don't think all artists are pretentious. I have noticed that a lot of people who post on the austinist comments are unable to form any kind of a coherent argument for anything, but I don't assume everyone that posts on the comments have the logical reasoning ability of a 13 year old. (no offence to any of you that actually are 13 years old)



    I'm just tired of people hating all frat people merely for the sake of hating all frat people. It just doesn't make any sense to me to hate an entire group of people for such nearsighted and topical reasons. Not until every last Greek member on earth has been scientifically tested as to their "lameness" and found to infact be lame - will the expression "All frat dudes are lame" be legitimate.



    Until then we will all have to stick with "Some frat dudes are lame" or "Most frat dudes are lame."



    A side note - coming up with all of these creative derogatory nick-names for Greek people only shows how much time you have wasted giving them attention they aren't deserved.

  • guest

    So like, all that crap about Hitler and the Jews is just that - crap.



    And it's ridiculous that you'd compare people that look down on frat brats to Hitler and frat brats to Jews. It's an offensive display of how out of touch with reality you are and the type of megalomania typical of a frat brat or so-ho.

  • guest

    But... frats and so-hoes do buy their friends. It's just true. If you didn't have to dress right and look right and pay to join then there wouldn't be any excuse for saying that, but it's just not the case. You have to pay HUGE dues to join a fraternity or sorority. You have to look the part and act the part. You can't be Booger and join a social fraternity. It just doesn't work like that.

  • guest

    Scooby please hurry up and post something half-way intelligible before everyone starts thinking that UT diplomas are worthless.

  • Scooby

    Your right. We're wrongly stereotyping. It's true that not all greeks are bad people that join frats to date-rape sorority girls and beat minorities.



    Some join to indulge their closet homo/bisexuality in homoerotic hazing rituals, such as circle-jerks, bare-ass paddling and the elephant walk.

  • guest

    Hitler believed all Jews were bad based soley on his knowledge that they were Jews and his misguided view of what it meant to be Jewish.



    You think all Greek people are bad based soley on your knowledge that they are Greek and your misguided view of what it means to be in a fraternity or sorority.



    I'm not saying they are all amazing people (because that would use the same flawed reasoning) or that the Greek system is something everyone ought to look up to.



    I just wish everyone with all this hate in their heart would let it out in a more intelligent way rather than:



    "Frats are some lame!! They are all looosserss!!! You know they just buy their friends, right?!"



    Everyone knows frats are a silly excuse to waste time and money doing something completely useless and feel cool about doing it, but that has nothing to do with the benevolence or malevolence of every single member.



    Like some guest said earlier - to each his own. Stop hating people you don't know for no reason.

  • pd

    who are we kidding guys--we're all just jealous.

  • Scooby

    That's a genius observation you've got there #24: ridiculing people based on their voluntary associations in silly social organizations is exactly the same as dispossessing, enslaving, and/ or murdering over 11 million people because they had at least 1 Jewish grandparent (or engaged in "fagetry"; or were the wrong kind of Slav, which is sort of like being Mexican, only different; or had a physical or mental handicap; or complained too much about party leaders, etc.).



    Besides, I don't see why you'd want to clasify everyone in a group (including the leader) in a negative way, just because that group was a certain German political party that was kinda popular there in the 1930s and '40s.



    If #24 is a greek (pledge, active or alum) at UT, it's an embarrassment for my alma mater. Him being there devalues my diploma.

  • guest

    there's a freedom in this "guest" commenting

    business. it's like...everyone's true rancor is exposed and...i kinda like it.



    except for #26. i think i love you.

  • guest

    What's a frat house other than an extension of high school for those who aren't quite mature enough to leave high school behind them? Greek societies are simply a way for spoiled kids to make friends with people they share common values with such as the importance of owning a nice car, having wealthy parents and participating in underage drinking. If those kids were really interested in volunteerism, they would volunteer on their own. But from an outsider standpoint, most frat and soroity members seem to suffer from a bad case of arrested development where they only want to be recognized for their cuteness and bank accounts.

  • guest

    I pledged Fiji, and I'm a Jewish Mexican.



    I was brutally beaten and sodomized, and, worst of all, I didn't get in.

  • guest

    Hey - don't get all pissy with me because it's common sense that Greeks have to buy friends because they don't know how to make them any other way. If that wasn't true, they wouldn't have to join frats and ho-houses. Facts of life , kiddo. Doesn't matter if you like it or not, that's just the way I see it.

  • guest

    Smart people categorize hundreds of people as "devil children" based soley on the fact that they pay dues to a national organization of which they are a part of? Also, what type of organization isn't social? Merely the word 'organization' implies socialization and friendship.



    Are you the kind of smart person that makes assumptions about people because of his/her own personal insecurities combined with highly unbalanced and poorly examined opinions?



    That's great if you don't like one, two, or twenty specific greek members for specific reasons. To blanket clasify everyone in a group a negative way is reckless. Let's remember some historical figures that have done just that - historical figures that rhyme with "Titler."

  • guest

    I may not be bright, but I am most certainly smart.

  • guest

    Then you are not very bright.

  • guest

    Personally, I think everyone associated with a social fraternity or sorority (not so much those academic ones) are devil children because the members are obviously so unpleasant to be around that people have to buy their friends. That's what a frat or a ho-house is right? It's like a friendship brothel.



    The pirate pciture is hilarious. I love it. spooky

  • guest

    if i remember correctly from my freshman days at the fiji house, most men should want to stay off the catwalk, as it's quite common for girls with short skirts to walk above on the catwalk, offering the most pleasant views of real douchebags.

  • guest

    FYI: You can barely makeup the Catwalk on Google Maps. It's mainly in shadow but you can see it connected to the party house.



    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Austin,+TX&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=30.292449,-97.740689&spn=0.001661,0.003369&t=h&z=19

  • guest

    I went to a FIJI party in High School and if I remember correctly there is a Catwalk stretching from the back of the house to their party house. It seemed like the only people up there were the younger actives who really enjoyed the privilege of being up there. I think that points to this list as being 100% legit, as thats a sign of something pledges really wanted to be able to do, but weren't allowed to.



    The list really is more funny than anything else. Does anyone really think these people would be any different if there wasn't a fraternity system? It would be the exact same thing, but maybe in smaller groups of friends. Everything on there is pretty harmless and is more just for mind games if anyone knows anything about hazing. Pretty much these are just rules you have to follow for a couple of months. I really don't get it anymore, but to each their own.

  • guest

    I just think it's ignorant to suggest that every person associated with fraternities is a devil child running around beating people's faces in and oppressing minorities.



    How does the fact that there are no Mexican members (even though apparently there are two) mean that "No Mexicans" isn't a joke??



    There are no black people in the fraternity, but "No Blacks" isn't on the list. There are no Asian fijis, and "No Asians" isn't on the list either. No middle easterners, no Indians, no one that isn't white.



    Fiji is a whites only fraternity - everyone knows that. Just like there are blacks only fraternities and asian only fraternities and jewish only fraternities.



    I'm not sure why it needs mentioning that white fraternities have a history of racism - everyone knows that already. That fact combined with the fact that the Mexican membership of the Phi Gamma fraternity is low has no bearing on the unknown intention of the "No Mexicans" pledge rule.

  • guest

    uhhh...no mexicans is definitely not a joke. first, look at the racial layout of the phi gamma fraternity for the last few years and it's unlikely many hispanic names lay in the roster. And by saying the decision has already been made, so why put it on the list stresses how unnecessary the comment is.



    Fraternities, especially the ones at UT, have always had a horrible history with racism.



    This may or may not be the actual list, but I know members of this fraternity personally and this list doesn't surprise me in the least bit.

  • guest

    well, regardless of how hilarious the pledge rules are, michael austin presley's injuries sound pretty serious. no matter what kind of (not very) funny jokes you make with your frat "friends," beating people up is not acceptable.

  • guest

    I'm no greek lover, but c'mon:



    some of this stuff is obviously a joke



    No crying to Mom is a joke

    (how the hell would they know if you cry to your Mom, frats are swimming in money but electronic wire taps are a little extravagant)



    No Mexicans is a joke

    (it doesn't even make sense - if these people have already been chosen to be pledges then theoretically the decision has already been made regardless of the fact that it would never be their decision in the first place because pledges don't choose who is or isn't a pledge) We all know that southern frats are a relic from a type of old South culture that thinks it is funny to dislike Mexicans and any other foreign people.



    Let's remember that this list was meant to stay private amongst a privileged group of people that are the only ones who could know what is serious and what is dry humor.



    Maybe it's all serious and these guys are ignorant assholes, or maybe a lot of it is just older guys screwing around with innocent freshmen. No one but those actually in the fraternity can know for sure.

  • caffeineandmusic

    It's so wonderful to see that these frat boys have their priorities straight. It's perfectly acceptable to be racist so long as they don't drink and drive or put gel in their hair (god forbid!).

  • guest

    No douchebags?! How are the pledges supposed to clean their vaginas?

  • guest

    you all are ignoring absolutely the most disturbing thing on that list:



    Fijis consider OLD NAVY to be "designer clothes"!!!!!!!!!

  • guest

    They're spelled 'faggotry' and 'douchebags'. Geez.

  • JohnM

    Good addition with the "cat walk" photo. I guess that solves the mystery.

  • guest

    ahhh, i see date rape and 22-year-old's fondling high schoolers are both mysteriously missing from the pledge no-no's...

  • Scooby

    zeus, these are pledge rules- it's mild hazing. The rule means the pledges aren't allowed to use the indoor bathrooms. They have to use the skid-a-cans outside.



    After the pledge semester/year, they obviously have no problem with drinking and driving, respecting the ladies, or "fagetry".

  • Scooby

    It is impossible to follow all of the rules. Just being associated with these guys breaks #8: "No Deushebags".

  • heyzeus

    No inside bathrooms at the house? Yeah. Hoax. But believably hoaxy.

  • guest

    And absolutely NO English majors!

  • guest

    oh, boys will be BOYS



    nevermind the homophobia and racism



    but doesn't it remind you a little bit of the bush admin?

  • guest

    isn't 'fagetry' the only point of a fraternity nowadays?

  • guest

    What the fuck does "no cat walk" mean? This has been bothering me for months!

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