Quincy fraternity shut down after puppy's death

QUINCY, Ill. -- A Quincy University fraternity has been at least temporarily shut down after a highly publicized incident involving a puppy that was thrown from a Mississippi River bridge last month.

Alpha Delta Gamma's national office ordered the Quincy chapter to move out of its on-campus house this week and suspended the university's 25 members. The university will help the displaced members find housing.

The fraternity's St. Louis-based executive council did not say how long the chapter house would be closed or when members might be reinstated.

The Quincy chapter also was ordered to reorganize its governing board, which will be monitored by the university and a new committee comprised of chapter alumni.

While the puppy's death was an isolated incident, strong action was needed "to show the university and the entire community that we share their outrage," Bryan Lind, national president of the fraternity, said in a written statement.

"Sometimes, college students have to learn something the hard way, and what our members at Quincy are hopefully learning from this regrettable incident is that the actions of a few people, or even one person, can be extremely harmful to many others," Lind said.

Daniel Hollenkamp, who has since resigned as the fraternity's president, was charged last week with felony animal cruelty after a 14-week-old puppy was thrown from the Bayview Bridge.

Hollenkamp, 22, a senior from Carlyle, faces up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine. He is scheduled to appear March 19 in Adams County Circuit Court.

Police reports indicate alcohol may have been involved. The puppy, a border lab-terrier mix owned by two other fraternity members, has not been found.

Alpha Delta Gamma imposed sanctions after a meeting with James Reis, the university's dean of students.

The fraternity warned that failure to comply could result in expulsion of members and revocation of the chapter's charter.