The Taiwanese Association of Students at Tufts (TAST) was formally suspended Tuesday for the remainder of this year.
Yesterday, Judicial Affairs Officer Veronica Carter sent TAST President Justin Ho a letter confirming the club's suspension and revoking all Tufts Community Union Treasury funding.
According to the letter, TAST's one-year suspension is the outcome of an alcohol-related incident that occurred during the club's annual scavenger hunt.
"An underage first-year student ... became extremely intoxicated and required medical intervention because of the alcohol provided by [the club]," the letter said.
"We didn't know anything about it. To my knowledge, it happened after the [scavenger hunt]," Ho said.
The letter also stated that TAST "is not eligible to use the Tufts name or status as a recognized student organization and may not meet for any social or business function."
Ho and the club "do not condone illegal drinking," and the club announced that no one was required to drink at the event, according to the letter.
However, it also noted that the "stations" TAST set up for the scavenger hunt also served alcohol, which created a "dangerous situation."
"The fact that [TAST] stated to the first years before they visited the 'stations' that no upperclassmen would force them to drink does not discourage drinking nor lessen the club's responsibility," the letter said.
"Basically, we feel like what happened is really unfortunate, because people who know about TAST know that [the incident] isn't really representative of TAST," Ho said.
"We do other events without alcohol. We really hope that this isn't how the entire community views us. That's not what we're about."
The letter also stated that the actions of TAST could be considered "hazing," per the definition outlined in the Pachyderm student handbook.
Dean of Student Affairs Bruce Reitman and Carter met with Ho on Sept. 29, prior to sending him the letter.
The letter said that TAST could resume its functions in the fall of 2007.
Although the club is not allowed to assemble for any reason, its members may still participate in other events on campus.
"I can't speak for the entire community, but I know that the board will still participate in Asian-American events," Ho said. "We're still part of the Asian-American community, and the Tufts community."
- Pranai Cheroo
