Delta Gamma closes UConn chapter months after sophomore run over
STORRS, Conn. -- The Delta Gamma Fraternity, a national Greek women’s organization, announced it has decided to close a University of Connecticut chapter in the wake of the death of a sophomore who was part of the organization, CBS affiliate WFSB reports.
Jeffny Pally, 19, was run over last fall after leaving a party. She was sitting on the ground with her back against a bay door at the university’s fire station when the door opened. A fire department SUV ran over Pally and kept moving, CBS New York reported, citing state police.
Authorities have said Pally, of West Hartford, fell asleep in front of the door after drinking alcohol at an off-campus party.
Delta Gamma Fraternity said it notified the Epsilon Pi sorority chapter on the University of Connecticut’s Storrs campus about it decision on Monday.
“The tragic death of a new member greatly affected Delta Gamma Fraternity and caused council to reflect on the member experience at Epsilon Pi,” fraternity president Stacia Rudge Skoog said. “The decision to close a chapter is never easy, but council strongly feels it is in the best interest of the chapter and University of Connecticut community.”
The Delta Gamma Fraternity said information discovered during a recent university investigation into an unregistered event, combined with repeated policy violations over the last several years, led to the decision to close the chapter indefinitely, WFSB reported.
Six University of Connecticut students were charged last month with alcohol-related offenses related to Pally’s death. The students had been hosting an off-campus party at a fraternity-affiliated house Oct. 16 during homecoming weekend. Pally attended it.
Police have said Pally was sitting with her back against a garage door of the UConn Public Safety Complex at around 1 a.m. when she was run over by a fire vehicle responding to a call that turned out to be a false alarm. Two additional students were charged in connection with the false alarm.
Pally’s body wasn’t found until about 30 minutes later when firefighters returned. She died from injuries to her head and torso, the medical examiner’s office determined. The driver of the vehicle hasn’t been charged and the tragedy was ruled an accident.
