Despite Student Death, Ui Fraternities Kept Party Going

IOWA CITY — Tucked inside the Kinnick Stadium neighborhood that transforms into a beer-soaked bacchanal during Hawkeye home football games sit three adjoining houses that combined last fall to host “the largest tailgate in Iowa City.” The space — often teeming with black-and-gold-clad coeds chugging liquor, spraying beer and even falling unconscious and requiring medical care — was blocked in the back by fences, portable toilets and tarps “to prevent people from looking in,” according to Iowa City police documents and videos provided to the University of Iowa, which were obtained by The Gazette. A landlord hired security and the 302 Melrose Court entrance was staffed — as pre-purchased tickets were required for the parties, which, according to the documents, featured a DJ and free alcohol. Chipping in on what police described as $90,000 needed to pull of parties at the prime Hawkeye tailgate venue, according to records, were Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Pi and Phi Delta Theta — three of about a dozen fraternities the UI investigated. Across the street, three different fraternities — also swept up in the UI investigation — collaborated to rent space at 223 Melrose Court “for an unknown amount of money,” according to police.