University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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MEETS PLAYBOY Ann Marie Haggerty, of Villanova University, autographed copies of the Playboy Big East issue at Gus Miller’s Newsstand. Playboy 69

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pin When it was announced that Playboy Magazine would be searching the University of Pittsburgh for models to feature in their April issue, Delta Zcta pledge “Leigh Ann Pratte” said no one from the sorority ever informed her that she could be “depledged” if she agreed to pose. Pratte, who is using a pseudonym to avoid excess phone calls from admirers, will face disciplinary charges at a Delta Zeta meeting this evening for the photographs appearing in the “Women of the Big East” issue of Playboy, featuring undergraduate women from Pitt as well as Syracuse, Villanova and other universities in the Big East conference. According to Pratte, she received a phone call Monday night from the president of her sorority, Maria Pekich, informing her that she was no longer a pledge of Delta Zeta. Pekich refuted the allegation, saying, “I informed her that we will be taking disciplinary action, but that is the meeting tomorrow. I told her she may no longer be a pledge [following the meeting]”. Pratte was instructed that the possibility of her being depledged was apparent, but that it would not be decided until a later meeting. Collegiate Chapter Director Robin Bcdwell explained that when news of Pratte’s posing surfaced, she contacted the Delta Zeta regional headquarters. At that time, Bedwell was instructed to take appropriate actions. “I can see if I would have worn my letters in the picture, or used my real name but I didn’t,” said Pratte. “Every time I did publicity, I never said anything about the sorority. Some people knew that I was in a sorority, but now everybody knows.” Pratte contends the pledges were not told that posing for the magazine could jeopardize their standing in the sorority. Delta Zeta Vice-President Pledge Trainer Andrea Mercurio explained, “At the first meeting [during the fall of 1989] the entire group of pledges were read our sorority’s code of regulations and each pledge understood that their actions represent the entire sorority.” Perkich would not quote the exact text that Pratte reportedly violated, citing the material as a “secrecy of the sorority.” Pratte said she was warned not to say anything “bad” to the media about the sorority or charges could be brought against her. Pekich again disputed Pratte’s allegations, “The word, charges, or legal whatever, was not brought up. I told her if slander was done there may be repercussions.” Pratte appeared on WTAE-TV’s Pittsburgh’s Talking where she talked about her experiences with Playboy with host Ann Devlin. When asked whether or not posing had had a bad effect on her life, Pratte revealed her sorority’s reaction. “If they had not called me,” Pratte said, “I would not have said a word about the sorority. Even though I knew they were upset [with her posing], I still wasn’t going to say anything [until Pekich’s phone call].” Bedwell said in a prepared statement that she was “disappointed” Pratte had talked to the media before the sorority had a chance to consult her about the disciplinary charges. By Erik Kridle and Scot Ross The Pitt News 68 Playboy

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70 Cathedral of Learning