BOULDER, Colo. -- The National board of Chi Psi decided Wednesday afternoon to shut down the 84-year-old Boulder chapter indefinitely.

The Tennessee-based fraternity has been investigating the death of Lynn "Gordie" Bailey Jr., a University of Colorado business major from Texas. An autopsy showed Bailey died of acute alcohol poisoning during a pledge initiation.

Bailey was found face down on the first-floor library of the Chi Psi fraternity house on Sept. 17. He was pronounced dead at the scene after a frat member called 911 to request an ambulance.

An investigation revealed that Bailey and other pledges were taken to the mountains west of Boulder and told to drink large amounts of whiskey and beer. The drinking continued when they returned to the frat house.

Chi Psi policy prohibits the use of alcohol during an initiation ceremony.

CU officials had urged national Chi Psi leaders to close the Boulder chapter, due to a "history of difficulties" with the chapter. The request was echoed by CU's Interfraternity Council.

"The past 17 days have been difficult for Chi Psi Fraternity," Donald Beeson, a national fraternity spokesman, said. "Our focus has been almost singularly directed toward the death of Gordie Bailey and circumstances surrounding his death ... After a lengthy, detailed investigation, the Chi Psi Executive Council has chosen to move the Colorado chapter of Chi Psi into dormancy. This means that all operations of the fraternity at the University of Colorado will cease on Oct. 6, 2004. While we do anticipate Chi Psi returning to the Boulder campus in the future, no timetable has been set for our potential return."

The national board made the decision to shutter the chapter after it learned that the CU chapter had violated policies on the night of Bailey's death and that it had previous university violations, brought up during the investigation.

"The current environment in the Greek community at CU is incompatible with the values of Chi Psi Fraternity," said Beeson.

Details of the fraternity's private investigation into Bailey's death were made in cooperation with local law enforcement and university officials and will not be made public.

Boulder police have made no arrests in connection with Bailey's death three weeks ago, but said fraternity members may face alcohol-related misdemeanors for providing alcohol to minors.

An number of people were given misdemeanor summonses in connection with the death of Samantha Spady, a Colorado State University student who died a week before Bailey.

The two lengthy investigations and misdemeanor charges are in sharp contrast to a similar investigation and more serious charges in Oklahoma, following the weekend death of a University of Oklahoma student from alcohol poisoning.

A 21-year-old Sigma Chi fraternity member was arrested Wednesday on a felony charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor. Police in Oklahoma said more arrests are possible in the case.

The Chi Psi building will remain the property of the Alpha Psi Delta Alumni Corp. and that entity, in consultation with the National Fraternity, will determine the best use of the building while the chapter is dormant.

All current members will be given alumni status and all pledges are free to join other fraternities. It has not been determined when the men living in the building will need to vacate.

"As we move beyond the immediate issues we have been addressing, we would be remiss if we did not begin to look more closely at the larger issue of why college students feel the need to make excessive alcohol consumption a central part of their collegiate experience. It is our sincere hope that we will have an opportunity to partner with the University of Colorado and the headquarters of other fraternities, sororities and fraternal organizations with chapters in Boulder to address these behavioral issues," Beeson said.

"We know from his family and friends that Gordie Bailey was someone that leaves a lasting impression. It is our sincere hope that Gordie Bailey's legacy at CU will be the catalyst for cultural change in both the Boulder Greek community and the CU community at large," the national chapter said.