Live broadcast with SigEp CEO Brian Warren about the Ole Miss Chapter closing

SigEp CEO speaks to the Ole Miss Chapter closing and addresses comments and questions about the decision and actions around it.

Sigma Phi Epsilon closes chapter at University of Mississippi

Hot off the press from SigEp HQ. You never know what you will find when you start to look. Sometimes the reason you started looking is less trouble that what you find hiding under the surface.

Sigma Phi Epsilon closes chapter at University of Mississippi

After extensive deliberation and a thorough review of chapter activities, the decision has been made by the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Board of Directors to close the chapter at the University of Mississippi.

"Sigma Phi Epsilon is committed to being a different kind of fraternity – one that recognizes the importance of the out-of-classroom experience and is committed to making that experience the safest and most empowering part of a college male’s life,” said SigEp CEO Brian Warren. “Though it’s always painful to close a chapter, these students’ actions clearly illustrate a determination to perpetuate an experience based on risky and unconstructive behavior. In these cases, we have no choice but to close the chapter and return to campus at a later date.”

The decision is not a result of any individual incident, but a response to newly discovered, ongoing behavior that includes incidents of hazing, underage drinking, alcohol abuse, and failure to comply with the university and fraternity’s codes of conduct.

Though the incident involving the James Meredith statue several months ago did not directly result in the chapter’s closure, it did mark the beginning of an intensified period of review.

“Over the past several years we've worked with our chapter at the University of Mississippi to enhance the quality of their program,” said Warren. “Following the James Meredith incident two months ago, we began a more formal and comprehensive review process that revealed this new and disappointing information.”

Sigma Phi Epsilon is currently working with the University of Mississippi to discuss a return date to campus.

View the press release.

'via Blog this'

Mississippi State (MS Beta) SigEp chapter shut down after hazing violations

Another chapter learns the hard way that hazing is not a long term survival strategy.

Sigma Phi Epsilon shut down after hazing violations - News - The Reflector-Online:

Sigma Phi Epsilon shut down after hazing violations
Jake Jones

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity also known as “Sig Ep,” has been shut down and withdrawn from Mississippi State University due to a decision by the National Office of Sigma Phi Epsilon and the Dean of Students office.

On Dec. 17, former Sigma Phi Epsilon President Paul Cianciolo received an email from the Dean of Students, Thomas Bourgeois. In the email, Bourgeois said a decision was made by the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Board of Directors to withdraw the Mississippi Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. This decision closed and dissolved the chapter immediately. Cianciolo denied to comment on this issue.

The decision to withdraw the chapter was made in response to actions committed by the chapter that included hazing, deception of university officials and the National Headquarters and violation of probationary sanctions, according to a letter from Bourgeois.

As a result of this decision, the chapter must give up its house along with other privileges. Pete Smith, Sigma Phi Epsilon faculty adviser, said the chapter will no longer be recognized as a student organization.

“The guys are not supposed to organize in any way,” Smith said. “They are not supposed to wear their letters or be affiliated with the chapter in any way. Unfortunately for current members, this means they are not recognized by the national organization."

Sigma Phi Epsilon supported charities such as Habitat for Humanity and the Boys and Girls Club. The fraternity held several fundraisers for these charities such as the baseball classic, a baseball game where fraternities compete to raise money. It also hosted an alumni golf tournament.

Alumni of the Mississippi Beta Chapter are still a recognized group and are already working to bring Sigma Phi Epsilon back to MSU. No schedule for its return has set.

When Sigma Phi Epsilon returns, members will move into their existing house. For now, the house will be leased to another organization, or organizations, who will remain in the house until Sigma Phi Epsilon returns.
Smith said Sigma Phi Epsilon’s withdrawal is unfortunate for the campus and the Greek system.

“It does look bad,” Smith said. “A chapter closing down feeds into the negative perception of Greek life. As a former Greek, I can tell you the Greek life is more valuable than the stereotype suggests. I hope that when Mississippi Beta Chapter returns, we can be a source of pride rather than scandal.”

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Ex-Va Tech frat house will be home for innovators

VA Tech gets creative with the former SigEp House.

Ex-Va Tech frat house will be home for innovators - Richmond Times Dispatch: Technology:

 BY JACOB DEMMITT The Roanoke Times

THE ROANOKE TIMES

This fall, the former Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house at
Virginia Tech will become the Innovate living-learning
community, which will include three dozen students.

BLACKSBURG Virginia Tech is inviting a group of young entrepreneurs to live in the new $5.1 million house that was left empty when the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity was kicked off campus in May for bad behavior.

The announced plan sounds like the plot to a new reality TV show: Fill a mansion with innovators, give them some guidance, and then watch startups roll out the front door.

The so-called Innovate living-learning community is accepting applications as it looks for 35 male and female freshmen from any major. Applicants need only have an “entrepreneurial spirit.” The university has 16 similar programs for groups ranging from female engineers to volunteers, but this will be the only one stationed in a former fraternity house.

University officials were excited to talk about the new program as they danced around the touchy subject of the previous tenant. But Nathan Latka, an entrepreneur involved with the program, probably wasn’t the only one who saw the irony of the situation. He laughed at the thought of the new tenants sitting around the same table where party themes used to be hatched. The only difference, he said, is that this time, they hope to create million-dollar startups.

Latka knows how productive this kind of space can be. The 23-year-old worked out of a Virginia Tech dorm room when he was one of the founders of Heyo, a startup that designs social media campaigns for companies such as Lilly Pulitzer. Heyo is now a multimillion-dollar operation with 16 employees. But Latka said it all started with Red Bull-fueled brainstorming sessions with classmates in Tech’s Barringer Hall.

He says new ideas require “random collisions.”

The house “has got all the amenities built in,” Latka said. “It allows random ideation to happen at any moment. It increases the chances that two freshmen who would have never known each other from two disciplines to really collide and engage and ideate.”

VA Kappa SigEp Chapter Closed - New House to be Used as Dormitory

The SigEp Chapter at VA Tech apparently built their brand new $5 million house so the university can use it as a dormitory. The members of the Chapter were informed Tuesday afternoon of the chapter closing.

Here is the link to the story from the student paper:
Sig Ep fraternity loses charter, new house - CollegiateTimes.com:

The following quote from a letter to HQ staff  gives an overview :

All,

Later this afternoon, we will announce the closure of the Virginia Kappa Chapter at Virginia Tech.

As many of you are aware, this comes after months and years of effort on  the part of the staff, alumni-volunteers, and Virginia Tech to address significant behavioral issues and general under-performance among the members.
[...]
We're all looking forward to re-colonizing a great chapter at VT in the upcoming years.

So there you have it. In the last few years a number of outwardly successful chapters have been closed. The reasons for closing have been varied. However, inability to change from a culture of high-risk behavior and non-existent or non-enforced standards to a culture of mutual support and accountability are high on the list of reasons. And it is not just about the undergraduates. Alumni who are resistant to change cannot shield a bad chapter from scrutiny. 

We look forward to a new, improved chapter at VA Tech in a few years.

Remembering Sigma Phi Epsilon

IL Zeta (ISU) has been closed. In this article the writer takes a look at some of the positive things they accomplished.

Remembering Sigma Phi Epsilon | Her Campus:


Remembering Sigma Phi Epsilon
By HerCampus ISU Staff
Photos by: Lindsay Nardini


Since this past Thursday, the Greek Community at ISU has been abuzz with talk about the recent events surrounding the fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. As unfortunate as it is, Sigma Phi Epsilon will no longer be recognized as a chapter by the Illinois State Greek Affairs office.

Although this unfortunate instance has shed light on the mistakes Sig Ep has made, let us not forget all the accomplishments and achievements of the Illinois Zeta Chapter since it was founded here in 1971.


For example, last year Sig Ep won first place in Chi Omega’s March Madness, had the best GPA on campus, and placed third in Delta Zeta’s Turtle Tugs. They were also voted Best Social Fraternity on campus by readers in The Daily Vidette and their incoming president, Robert Izaguirre, was named SigEp Ruck Scholar. Not only that, but the fraternity had a 100 percent retention rate of their new member classes, which is an outstanding achievement.

All of the men that we interviewed had endless praise to give about their time spent as members of the Sig Ep fraternity. A member since Fall 2012, freshman Kevin O’Connor told us that, “being a part of Sigma Phi Epsilon has made me a better man.” Sophomore and Vice President of Finance Jimmy Hannon went on to say that, “Without a doubt, Sig Ep has been my life up until this point.” The life changing experiences that Sigma Phi Epsilon has offered to the men who have passed through the chapter will unfortunately no longer be able to be experienced by it’s younger members. As freshman (and past Campus Cutie) Eddie Sak explained, “I’ve wanted to be in a fraternity my whole life and the fact that my college career is going to be drastically different than the way I pictured now is really unfortunate.”

UF’s Sig Ep Chapter Closed for “Numerous Violations”

Florida Alpha has been closed. Sad to see that old and large chapters have such a difficult time adapting to the current times. Even more upsetting is that this is current Grand President Bert Harris' home chapter. That must have been a tough decision. More to the point, it shows how serious SigEp is about living our values in the 21st century.

KnightNews.com » UF’s Sig Ep Chapter Closed for “Numerous Violations”

UF’s Sig Ep Chapter Closed for “Numerous Violations”
BEYOND UCF, NEWS, UCF GREEK LIFE — BY JACOB SADOWSKY ON DECEMBER 10, 2012 AT 5:37 PM
 

Sigma Phi Epsilon of the University of Florida is no more.

Sig Ep’s Board of Directors has withdrawn the charter of the Florida Alpha Chapter of Sig Ep at UF for several reasons relating to conduct issues.

The chapter is currently being investigated by UF for numerous violations of the University’s code of conduct.

“When the cultural issues within a chapter conflict with our values and are too deeply rooted to effect change, we have no other option but to withdraw the chapter’s charter,” a statement from the Sig Ep Fraternity said.

The chapter has existed at the school since 1925.

Restored chapters - News from around the country

This post is different from our usual fare for two reasons:

First, rather than only one item we have several related items. Several chapters which had been suspended, closed, or under reorganization are making a new start embracing the Cardinal Principles, Balanced Man concept, and a full four year development program.

• (Note from Tom Barton) SigEp storms back to Loras College!!!
  SigEp is back at Loras College in Dubuque, IA. After 10 years of dormancy, IA Eta lives again. In just a month, on a campus with only 1600 students and no other fraternities, the IA Eta colony has landed 24 new members with a combined GPA of 3.2. This includes class presidents, campus leaders, and members of nationally ranked sports teams. Brother Tom Barton, Loras '89, is leading the charge from the alumni volunteer side.  Brother Jim Collins, Loras '84, is now the college president and has also been extremely instrumental in the return of IA Eta.  Originally founded in 1974, IA Eta at one point had won 7 straight Buchanan Cups from 1975-1989 under the mentoring of Order of the Golden Heart recipient Bob McCune.  Stay tuned!

• The State News :: Sigma Phi Epsilon MSU chapter restored
  After losing its charter last winter, the MSU chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon ... “Sig- Ep is alive and well, and we have full intention of keeping it that way,” Price said.
• EIU SigEp - Eastern Illinois University
  The Sigma Phi Epsilon colony has established itself in East Hall as part of Greek ... Lou Hencken in reserving the first floor of East Hall for Sig Ep members.
• ...and one chapter on the brink...
  The Daily Northwestern : Sig Ep
  Future of Sig Ep uncertain after national suspension ... Northwestern's chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon will not host social events or participate in rush pending a ...

Second, we have begun a more active presence on Google+.  In addition to making posts available on the S&P Facebook page, we now will be sending them to the S&P page on Google+. 
If you have a Google+ account be sure to add S&P to your circles. (Notice the handy widget at the top of the sidebar.) If you don't have one - Here is how to set it up.

UVM announces planned actions in wake of fraternity's rape survey

Now the furor has died down, and the damage done, and the chapter disbanded. NOW they tell us "The fraternity was not responsible" for the "who would you rape?" survey.
Where on campus is the office which can return the chapter's reputation?

The University of Vermont has announced a series of measures to combat sexual violence in the aftermath of a scandal surrounding the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity last year.

UVM said the fraternity itself was not responsible for a controversial survey in which members of the fraternity were reported asked whom they would like to rape. A community furor ensued, the campus chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon was closed and UVM launched an investigation.

Last semester, various recommendations were made by UVM’s Gender-based Sexual Violence Task Force and the Commission on Social Change.

Thursday, a report to the UVM community by Tom Gustafson, vice president for university relations and campus life, and Annie Stevens, associate vice president for university relations and campus life, provided an update on the investigation and those recommendations.

The university’s inquiry into the fraternity has been completed, with the conclusion that “Sig Ep as an organization” was not responsible for putting the question in the survey. Other findings surfaced, however, that could lead to sanctions against the fraternity, pending investigation.

Recommendations to be implemented include:

• Providing funding for the annual Dismantling Rape Culture Conference, which is organized by UVM’s Women’s Center.
• Sponsoring an independent review of “the UVM Greek Life community” to be conducted by outside experts, with a final report due by January.
• Providing funding for a full-time men’s educator; for a post-doctoral position focusing on issues such as sexual violence and masculinity, the position to be housed in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program; and for a full-time investigator, in the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Office, to review all cases of discrimination, including sexual violence.
• Making a summer-reading selection for incoming students that focuses on a topic pertaining to gender issues, violence and oppression.
• Funding one-time training costs for development of a “comprehensive bystander intervention program.”
• Creating “a communication and response plan” to handle “major incidents of bias, unusual death, sexual violence, alcohol and other drugs.”

UVM announces planned actions in wake of fraternity's rape survey | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com:

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SigEp house becomes Champlain dorm - News - Vermont Cynic - University of Vermont

SigEp house becomes Champlain dorm - News - Vermont Cynic - University of Vermont

Former UVM fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) lost its charter last year, but what happened this summer may have hit even closer to home.

Actually, a whole lot closer.

The SigEp house at 371 Main St. will undergo interior renovations before becoming home to approximately 30 Champlain College students this fall, according to the Burlington Free Press.

SigEp lost its charter last December when a controversial survey question distributed among fraternity brothers went public, sparking national media attention and local protests.

Since the University’s decision to de-recognize SigEp, the brothers who were living at the house were forced to move out, and the national organization decided what to do next.

Champlain acquired the house in June, after Burlington’s Development Review Board approved the college’s request to change the property from a fraternity house to a dormitory for five years.

Efforts to transform the 8,200-square-foot house into a student dorm have resulted in a $300,000 interior makeover, a University Business article stated.

But the house isn’t exactly changing hands. SigEp has owned 371 Main St. since 1956, and the fraternity continues to be the sole proprietor of the house throughout its leasing agreement with Champlain.

Executive director of SigEp Brian Warren said in a phone conversation with the Cynic that the terms and conditions of the agreement allowed room for the fraternity to eventually re-apply for its charter.

“Typically, four years is the length of time that a chapter will remain dormant,” Warren said. “It is our intention that we can explore various conversations [with UVM] about re-affiliation after that time.”

National Sig Ep suspends NU chapter

On Campus - The Daily Northwestern - Northwestern University: "

BREAKING: National Sig Ep suspends NU chapter

All undergraduate members of Northwestern's chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon are suspended awaiting a membership review by alumni advisers in the fall, according the fraternity's national quarters.

The fraternity's board of directors decided to suspend NU's members after noting a "pattern of risky behavior exhibited by the chapter over the last year," as well as their failure to correct that conduct, executive director Brian Warren Jr. said in a statement provided to The Daily on Friday.

Warren wrote that the national fraternity "look(s) forward to working with all members who are committed to building a chapter that will enrich the college experience at Northwestern."

As of now, NU's Sig Ep members are under review by the national organization's Alumni Advisory Council, according to the statement.

NU's Illinois Lambda chapter of Sig Ep was installed in 1989 and states its mission as "Building Balanced Leaders for the World's Communities," according to NU's Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. 

Interfraternity Council President Patrick Schnettler, a McCormick senior, told The Daily that IFC will likely release a statement Friday night."

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Requiem for my chapter

Wm. Hydrick, LA Gamma (Loyola) sent this post saying goodbye to his home chapter.

Requiem for my chapter

All things die.¹ Birds die. Fish die. Flowers and trees die. Dogs and cats and hamsters die. Even cars, and ships, and buildings die. People die, too, as do ideals and their expression. Dying is simply the logical end to living. Things come into existence, serve their purpose, and exit the stage of life’s great drama. Some things die in a matter of hours while others go on for centuries before their end comes. Millions of years from now even our sun will die and fade. All things die.

A man of wisdom² once wrote that being finite “may be the greatest gift our race has ever received. To live on . . . is to leave behind joy, love, and companionship because we know it to be transitory; of the moment. We know it will turn to ash. Only those whose lives are brief can believe that love, is eternal.” Would that I would not have lived to see this day; happier I would have been to enter that eternal realm of knowing nothing, ignorant of when this day would come. But come it has, the curse known to the parent who outlives his child. To know now not the joy of watching a becoming but to feel the desolation of having no further purpose and the emptiness of failure; this is all I am left with.

As a youth, I remember hearing the parable of the sower and the seeds³. Having not read the passages myself, I always thought it was a treatise concerned with the distribution of wealth; that we were the seeds. Some seeds feel on good soil and flourished (the rich), some seeds fell on rocky soil and toiled harder (the middle class), and still others fell upon the road and were devoured or trampled (the poor). It is therefore not the seeds at fault for their circumstance but rather a result of the environment in which they were place. As seeds we are equal. But as an adult studying the Gospels I came to understand we are not the seeds but the soil.

The biblical texts go on to explain the seed is the Word and the soil is those who hear it. I think that is equally true in Sigma Phi Epsilon. The seeds are the values of the fraternity and WE are the soil. For some, the values are hollow and meaningless. They never take hold and those men never understand the true meaning of our motto. Some will hang on through graduation but many will simply fade with time. Then there are those who become the weeds and choke the life from the new growth. There are also those for whom the meaning is clear but it doesn’t survive long beyond the academic halls. These men find true solace in the values while in school but consider it only a passing phase. Once they graduate they quickly fall into new routines and the fraternity is quickly forgotten or only viewed as a childish affectation now put aside. Then there are the few where the lifetime responsibility of brotherhood takes deep root and the values of Sigma Phi Epsilon are foremost in their minds to their dying day.

I have seen you all in the men of my chapter. I have loved you all as you passed in and through my life.

And now you are gone.

Vermont fraternity chapter closed over rape survey - CNN.com

Vermont fraternity chapter closed over rape survey - CNN.com:

"STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• The local chapter of the fraternity is closed indefinitely, officials say
• The survey is "deplorable and absolutely inconsistent with our values," national fraternity leader says
• University of Vermont officials said they "respect and support" the decision"

'via Blog this'

Earlier video included with the story:



Editorial comment:
The staff and NDB did as well as possible by acting swiftly to investigate, decide, and act unambiguously to send a message that we will not tolerate behavior that violates our principles.

This should be viewed as a 'teachable moment' when chapter leaders and volunteers get together at the upcoming CLAs. Future incidents like this (sadly, we know there will be) must be handled in a similar no-nonsense manner.

This note from Chuck Eberly (OH Kappa, OGH) - sent originally to the Illinois NU chapter he advises - arrived earlier today. We were asked to let others know about John Foubert's One in Four program.  

I am sad to learn that the chapter has been closed, but reassured to know that our Board of Directors (which must vote to close a chapter) and our Headquarters leadership is willing to do what is necessary to live up to the values of our Fraternity. I do not know if there is such a count, but in my memory this is one of the first times a Balanced Man Chapter of Sig Ep has been closed for misbehavior.

Executive Committee, perhaps developing an all-campus program on rape awareness and prevention is a good step forward. Please go to the website for the One in Four Program developed by my friend, Dr. John Foubert, of Oklahoma State University (http://www.oneinfourusa.org/). In fact, I wonder if the incident at the University of Vermont can be used as an incentive for men in Sigma Phi Epsilon and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (John's fraternity) to cooperatively develop One in Four Programs on multiple campuses. Some of you may know that I endorsed John's book, The Men's Program and The Women's Program, when they were published. The intent of the books is to promote the development of rape prevention programs on college campuses based on solid empirical evidence that the programs work with high-risk segments of the student population, such as athletic teams and men-only groups like college fraternities. A list of John's publications can be found on his website at Oklahoma State.

You can learn about John's work on the Internet during break.  Are there brothers in Illinois Nu who are dedicated enough to initiate such a program on the EIU campus?

Fraternally,
Chuck Eberly

East Carolina Chapter Charter Revoked

ECU Sigma Phi Epsilon Chapter Charter Revoked

A fraternity that has been at East Carolina University for almost 50 years has had its charter revoked and could not be back on campus for at least four years.

The national organization of Sigma Phi Epsilon, also known as Sig Ep, decided to revoke the charter for the East Carolina chapter. Officials with the organization say they along with ECU officials have been working the past three years to reorganize, but say,"The chapter has continued to act in ways and put themselves and others at risk, as a national organization we have a responsibility."

There was an investigation into allegations of hazing, but those were not proven. Now officials say they revoked the charter because of policy and procedure violations, also because they believe members were not living up to the Sig Ep standards. But fraternity members say they plan to fight this decision.

Allen Wooten, President of the ECU chapter of Sig Ep says, "They came down here for one thing and made a judgment call and then the next thing you know we are losing our charter and it all happened quickly. We are doing best to reorganize and prepare for the appeal."

Wooten also says the fraternity has done a lot of good things on campus. For now those that live in the house must leave and the charter could possibly not be reinstated for four years.

Missouri Frat Surrenders Its Charter

Alpha Kappa Lambda leaves MU
Alcohol and fire code violations in May resulted in the loss of the fraternity's charter.

By Jimmy Hibsh

As the Interfraternity Council’s formal recruitment takes place this weekend on campus, prospective brothers will have one less choice of fraternity to enter as a result of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity’s surrender of its charter on May 10.

In early February, the fraternity was suspended by the university following an appeal of a decision recommended by the Greek Judicial Board to the Student Organizations Governments and Activities Board, according to a press release issued by the Office of Greek Life.

But, despite the fraternity’s loss of university recognition, the Alpha Kappa Lambda national fraternity chose to continue to support all actions of the chapter. The release said this support was maintained until May, when a May 8 party at the chapter house brought about multiple city citations resulting from student, Columbia Police Department, Columbia Fire Department and Alpha Kappa Lambda headquarters staff reports. The citations ranged from fire code violations to alcohol violations, including one case of alcohol poisoning.

Bryant Gatrell, national vice president for Alpha Kappa Lambda and founding father of the MU chapter, said the decision to revoke a chapter’s charter is difficult, but necessary. Although he did not participate in the decision to revoke the chapter’s charter because of his conflict of interest, he acknowledged the inevitability of the situation.

“The situation with my chapter was not a one time thing,” Gatrell said. “It was something that was addressed over time, but the final straw that broke the camel’s back was when they had a big blow out party at the end of the year when they thought they were going to lose the house.”

Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jessie Haden said the police department is accustomed to responding to on-campus parties, but she noted complaint calls are most frequent in the fall and spring, and at fraternities rather than sororities. Every time an on-campus peace disturbance call is received, MU is notified.

“What we do whenever we have a call that is close by campus is make sure that we communicate with the university, the university police department, Office of Greek Life or any other organizations who might be involved,” Haden said. “We’re very good at always doing that.”

On May 10, the national office informed the Alpha Kappa Lambda chapter that they had begun the process of withdrawing their charter, notifying them that they had the opportunity to collect an evidence packet to create an argument that could potentially keep the chapter open, the release stated.

Despite the opportunity to debate to keep their chapter alive, the students chose to surrender their charter that same day.

“The facts shed such a bad light on all that were involved that there wasn’t really much more to say or do once the party happened,” Gatrell said. “The guys went into that weekend with their eyes wide open. Maybe they didn’t completely understand that it meant that there wasn’t going to be a chapter anymore, but I think they knew that what they were going to undertake that weekend was not bright and was definitely not going to lead to good things.”

As founding father of the MU chapter, Gatrell said he was disheartened to see his former fraternity leave the university.

“When we started there were 34 fraternities already on campus, and when you’re the new guy on the block you have to earn your respect,” Gatrell said. “Just to realize that all of the hard work that had gone into the fraternity the last 20 years was just kind of thrown away by a handful of individuals because of their poor decisions is really disappointing and frustrating. It makes you a little mad that you have folks who don’t care enough about the organization to take the steps to save it.”

IFC President Brandon Green said he was also disappointed to see the chapter leave campus, but he remained positive about the situation.

“It’s always sad to see a chapter have to leave our campus, but we’re still a thriving Greek community,” Green said. “We have 27 other chapters, many of which are in a great, great strong position.”

Like Green, Gatrell was able to remain optimistic.

“The good news is that we have had a good success rate at bringing chapters back after a period of time,” Gatrell said. “I certainly hope that happens at Mizzou. I’m hoping for brighter days.”

According to a fall 2009 report by the Greek Judicial Board, the 2012 spring semester will be the soonest time Gatrell’s wish could be answered.

©2010 The Maneater Student Newspaper

UVA Sig Eps Closed

SPE fraternity headquarters revokes University charter
Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter closes after semester on IFC, UJC mandated probation
Samantha Koon, Cavalier Daily News Editor

Monday evening, the national headquarters for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity revoked the University’s Virginia-Eta chapter’s charter. The decision was made in conjunction with Dean of Students Allen Groves and Michael Citro, assistant dean of fraternity and sorority life.

“There have been a string of incidents over the past several years,” SPE Director of Operations Brian Warren said, noting that no one issue spurred the shutdown. Instead, Warren cited broad offenses such as “disruptive behavior [and] behavior that doesn’t put the fraternity in a good light,” as the national body’s reason for taking action against the University’s chapter.

“There were significant concerns with the practices of the fraternity, and behaviors that stood in contrast with the University’s mission and values,” Citro said, declining to elaborate.

SPE had been on probation since the spring semester, Warren said, and the fraternity had been under restrictions imposed by the University Judiciary Committee and the Inter-Fraternity Council. He added that Citro and Michael Repasky, SPE’s East director of chapter services, also recently investigated alleged hazing practices.

“The hazing allegations were false; this was completely alleged,” former chapter President Alex Ehrnschwender said, noting that he believes the decision to revoke the Virginia-Eta chapter’s charter was not related to such allegations.

“It was a decision made by the national Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity,” he said.

According to Citro, the national organization’s decision was intended to help build a stronger foundation for the chapter in the future. He noted that the fraternity was also encouraged to reconsider new member practices in particular.

“They somehow decided that they didn’t like the direction we were taking in not being part of their coveted ‘Balanced Man Program.,’” Ehrnschwender said.

Warren said the Balanced Man Program is designed to provide personal and professional development throughout the college experience. He also noted that SPE’s national headquarters hopes to “challenge stereotypes” surrounding fraternities, and instead make them integral parts of the education process.

The national organization has been making efforts to restructure houses to develop better relationships with undergraduates and faculty members, Warren said. The national body’s attempts to revise practices and outline a new strategic vision, however, appear to be at possible odds with some Virginia-Eta chapter members’ personal convictions.

“This new ‘Balanced Man Program’ would be more of a recreational learning center than a fraternity,” Ehrnschwender said. “We strongly value traditions at SPE and value the traditional SPE chapter.”

Former brothers, meanwhile, said they were upset with how quickly the decision to revoke the chapter’s charter was made.

“Everyone is in shock,” former chapter member Nick Kirby said.

Though Ehrnschwender said last semester’s probation brought to light the possibility of losing the chapter’s charter, Kirby was still surprised by the decision. He said SPE’s earlier probation was administered through the IFC, but the charter was revoked by the national headquarters, and the Fraternal Organization Agreement — paperwork signed each year by fraternity presidents and the University to officially recognize the chapter — was discontinued by the University.

“No one really expected it,” Kirby said.

The fraternity’s house at 150 Madison Lane, which Ehrnschwender said is owned by a SPE alumni board and will soon be taken over by the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Housing Corporation, must be vacated within 30 days. All brothers currently living in the house have been asked to find other off-Grounds housing instead, Ehrnschwender added.

Sigma Phi Epsilon will not be allowed to organize on Grounds for at least three years, Citro said, though Kirby and Ehrnschwender said they are confident that the former brothers will remain close.

“The group of members and brothers will try to remain close, but we wont take any actions under the SPE name,” Ehrnschwender said. He added that the former brothers hope that the fraternity will recolonize at the University in the future.

“We won’t know the specifics of a return or what that process looks like for a couple of months,” Warren said, adding that SPE’s national body is more concerned about finishing the closing process for the Virginia-Eta chapter than in discussing plans for its return.

Recolonization is “a detailed process, and it‘s best done in partnership with the University, IFC, and national headquarters, as well as alumni,” Citro said.

IFC President Charles Gamper echoed Citro, noting that “the IFC remains open to conversations with the national frat about any plans to return to the University.”

In the meantime, Citro noted that the Office of the Dean of Students is open to answering questions and discussing the chapter’s closure with any of the University’s former SPE brothers.

“You’re looking at a group of men whose main recognition from national fraternity has been revoked,” he said. “They can certainly have a lot of feelings about it, and we are willing to help them talk through that.”

Alabama SigEp chapter closed for hazing

I wonder if they had to dress up like cheerleaders?

The Alabama Beta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity will be removed from campus, UA spokeswoman Deborah Lane said Tuesday.
ma
"The national board has decided to close the chapter, and the University supports that decision," Lane said.

Lane said the chapter is being removed because of the chapter's "repeated violations of the student code of conduct" and its hazing practices.

Short and to the point. No announcement from HQ yet, but Alabama Beta is not on the HQ website chapter list anymore.

Crimson White - UA's Sig Ep chapter closed for hazing

NIU Suspension Reduced to Two Years

Sig Eps receive reduced suspension
By JOHN RANALLO

The NIU chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon’s five-year suspension has been reduced to two years. Sigma Phi Epsilon was found guilty of racial harassment at a hearing Nov. 16, 2007, before a Judicial Board that did not include Judicial director Larry Bolles, who was removed from all judicial proceedings for the case by Brian Hemphill, vice president of Student Affairs.

As cited in a Nov. 5 Northern Star article, Sigma Phi Epsilon (“Sig Eps”) faced several infractions, including underage alcohol consumption, racial harassment and additional incidents.

Sig Eps were suspended for five years and fined $500 for violations of the University Code of Conduct at the hearing, at which the fraternity was not present. Sig Eps appealed the decision, leading to the suspension being reduced to a four-year term, which was ultimately reduced to a final two-year term.

SUSPENSION REDUCED

The five-year suspension was initially reduced to four years after the appeal process, but then was reduced to a retroactive two-year sentence deemed to have begun Sept. 12, 2007. The suspension is now being served by the fraternity.

The sentence was reduced by Hemphill, who said the decision to reduce the suspension to two years involved several factors. “The Sigma Phi Epsilon appeal decision was based on a review of the facts surrounding the case, action by the national headquarters, and past precedent with regard to sanctions surrounding incidents of this nature,” Hemphill said in an e-mail. He refused interviews in person or over the telephone.

“I found the four-year suspension to be unwarranted,” Hemphill said. “The Sigma Phi Epsilon national headquarters worked with alumni members of the organization and conducted a review of the chapter members, based on this incident, prior to the appeal.”

BOLLES REMOVED FROM CASE

Bolles was removed from the case and was not allowed to comment on any matters pertaining to the Sigma Phi Epsilon proceedings. “Dr. Bolles was removed from the case based on an appeal letter submitted by Sigma Phi Epsilon which alleged he was biased based on comments he made in the Northern Star on April 25, 2007, regarding the Greek community,” Hemphill said.

“In order to ensure that there was no perception of an unfair process, Dr. Bolles was not involved in the Judicial Board hearing or the two appeals.”

In the April 25, 2007 article, Bolles cited a downward trend in Greek Row behavior.“It’s like trying to change a culture, and that’s what you have on Greek Row - drinking, partying; they’re doing what Greeks do,” Bolles said in the article. Bolles said in the article if Greek Row behavior continued to decline, “a campus without Greek organizations could be a realistic future.”

SIG EPS’ NO-SHOW HEARING

According to documents acquired through Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, Frank Woodin, the alumni president of the Illinois Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon, claims Sig Eps corresponded with John Jones, associate vice president for Student Affairs. Woodin claims Jones met with representative alumni members Ryan Anderson and Tim Hogan with hopes of avoiding a hearing.

The FOIA request shows Woodin wrote to Jones, “You agreed to meet with our representatives on Nov. 9, and at that meeting, you said if [Sig Eps] took responsibility for the alleged violations, a hearing would not be necessary.” Sig Eps worked to comply but no agreement was reached, according to the correspondence.

Woodin claims Anderson met with Jones a second time to discuss terms.

In a letter, Woodin wrote to Jones: “You assured Mr. Anderson that we had reached an agreement on the sanctions and that, provided the amendments were made to the letter, a hearing could be avoided.”

Jones did not respond to phone calls and an e-mail requesting comment on the matter. Woodin claims that 10 minutes before the trial was set to begin, Jones called Anderson and apologized for not being able to reach an agreement.

Sig Eps, however, was under the assumption that an agreement had been reached, and the fraternity did not show for the hearing. Sig Eps was found in violation of the University Code of Conduct and was issued the initial five-year suspension with a $500 fine at the hearing.

Terms of Sigma Phi Epsilon's suspension
Spring 2008:

-Fraternity will not be a registered student organization and, therefore, will not enjoy any of the rights or privileges included in such a designation (e.g., access to campus resources, ability to recruit, no involvement with the Interfraternity Council, no community service, no social events, etc.)

-Sigma Phi Epsilon National Board of Directors may continue to recognize the fraternity if it chooses, but it is required to remain under alumni advisory council guidance throughout the suspension period.

-The organization may not represent itself in any way at campus-sponsored or campus-related events. For example, members may not have an intramural team and wear letters, or a group of members cannot attend other chapters’ philanthropy events en masse with letters on apparel.

-Sig Eps may conduct business meetings at the fraternity house, and the national office may conduct leadership trainings with current members.-Only members in good standing may reside in the fraternity house.

-The letters on the fraternity house must be removed from the structure.Summer/Fall 2008:-Sig Eps may conduct business meetings at the fraternity house, and members may become actively involved with The Balanced Man program under the strict guidance of its national office.

Spring 2009/Summer 2009:

-Sig Eps will not be a registered student organization but may request campus resources via the staff of Student Involvement and Leadership Development for the purposes of organizing its recruitment plans for Fall 2009 and for leadership development.

Fall 2009:

-Sig Eps will be eligible for recognized student organization status and all of the rights and privileges involved with that particular designation.

SOURCE: Letter from Brian Hemphill, vice president of Student Affairs, to Sigma Phi Epsilon President Daniel Leonard, obtained via Freedom of Information Act request

NATIONAL FRATERNITY INTERVENES

Sigma Phi Epsilon was notified of the five-year suspension Nov. 19, 2007. Sig Eps then appealed the decision Nov. 21 on the grounds that the fraternity’s right to due process was violated on several occasions. The appeal states that being led to believe the hearing would not occur was a violation of the fraternity’s due process. In addition, the appeal stated that the Judicial Hearing Board’s ruling was too severe.

On Nov. 27, 2007, the Sigma Phi Epsilon national fraternity intervened. In a letter acquired through a FOIA request, Craig D. Templeton, executive director of Sigma Phi Epsilon, stated that the NIU chapter had been suspended by the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Board of Directors.

In addition, the FOIA-requested letter stated the national board of directors “has already suspended and taken temporary authority of the charter at our Illinois Epsilon chapter at Northern Illinois University.” According to Templeton’s letter, dated Nov. 27, 2007: “The National Board of Directors has placed the chapter’s charter under the control of a specially appointed Alumni Advisory Council, made up of fraternity officials, staff, volunteers and alumni from other chapters.”

FRATERNITY OVERHAUL

The change of power suspended all undergraduate members, and the chapter will not be recognized as a registered student organization.

Eight members of the Illinois Epsilon Advisory Council are recognized, five of which are NIU alumni. The alumni advisory council eliminated two members for not meeting academic requirements, and another 28 of the 57 original members would “not be invited back,” according to correspondence between Templeton and the Office of Judicial Affairs. Hemphill, however, did not state in his e-mail that the members had been dismissed outright, but that the members were “suspended indefinitely from the fraternity.”

Dan Leonard, who became president of NIU’s Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter toward the end of the fall semester, feels the council’s decision was strict enough and is not worried about additional incidents.

“The chapter now includes only members who were invited back after a thorough membership review,” Leonard said in an e-mail interview. “I do not worry about any of them breaking the rules.”

Neither former Sig Eps president Mike Orescanin nor any other executive fraternity members were permitted to return by rule of the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Board of Directors. Leonard believes the appeal could have been treated more professionally.

“The active and alumni chapter do not feel that the process was handled properly, and are very disappointed,” he said. Leonard was selected by the alumni advisory council to serve as president. Previous executive officers were not asked to return.

FINAL RULING

At Sig Eps’ appeal trial Dec. 7, the Judicial Appeals Board reduced the sentence to a four-year suspension of the chapter, two years disciplinary probation and the requirement that the fraternity’s members attend a civility class. On Dec. 19, Sig Eps were informed by Hemphill that the suspension was reduced to two years.

Hemphill does not believe Sig Eps will violate the code of conduct again. “Sigma Phi Epsilon is suspended from all operations as an organization for two years,” he said. “I am confident that the remaining members will not violate the terms of their sanction, as it would have a direct impact on the time line to return to NIU.”

The Sigma Phi Epsilon house, 924 Greenbrier Road, appeared occupied as of Monday night. Sig Eps may conduct business meetings at the fraternity house, according to correspondence between Leonard and Hemphill. The correspondence also stated that the fraternity’s letters must be removed. The letters remained on the house as of Monday night

Tri-Sigma at MSU Closed for Hazing

MSU sorority closed over drinking, hazing

University, ousted women differ on gravity of allegations.
By Steve Koehler
Springfield News-LeaderJanuary 16, 2008

A Missouri State University sorority was disbanded for playing drinking games, leaving blindfolded women in a cemetery, and forcing a woman to get an application from a strip club.

The national council for Sigma Sigma Sigma yanked its charter, shuttering the local chapter for four years and leaving about 50 members to find a new place to live. It is reportedly the first MSU sorority forced to close.

Complaints about the chapter surfaced in mid-November after someone reported seeing a woman wearing the sorority's name being led blindfolded into a house. The investigation that followed focused on allegations of hazing, drinking and student conduct violations.

The sorority, which had been on campus since 1945, had about 140 members including the 54 who lived in three-story brick house on East Elm Street. The decision to revoke the charter means that new members will lose the $800 each paid in fees and can't pledge with another sorority.

Jamie Francis, a sophomore member of the sorority, said MSU and the chapter's national governing board "ruined us" over minor incidents.

"We didn't think at all that we'd be kicked off for anything so petty," said Francis, of St. Charles. "We didn't feel what we had done was that big a deal. What happened (to us) we didn't deserve."

University officials disagree.
Dixie Williams, assistant director of student activities for fraternity and sorority life at MSU, said the incidents were severe.

"I don't believe at all that these are minor things," she said. "Blindfolding women and leaving them in a cemetery is hazing."

Other allegations ranged from taking blindfolded women to a cave and to the basement of a house where they were interrogated. Pledges who refused the hazing were verbally abused, Williams said.

"The possibility of injury both mentally and physically is present," she said.

Kelsy Bartlett, a sophomore member of the sorority, pointed out that about 50 of the 60 prospective members involved in the incidents stayed with the sorority after the initiations. That fact, she said, shows that what took place wasn't that bad.

"It wasn't like they had to jump off a cliff," she said. "It was all in good fun."

Bartlett said the group's national governing board and MSU acted too harshly over "little things."

"What we did they considered hazing but we didn't. It wasn't considered that. We didn't believe it was hazing," Bartlett said. "No one complained."

Drinking
In one incident, the sorority reportedly held an unregistered event - or "walk-off" - with over 40 members traveling to a rural site. At that event, alcohol was consumed and drinking games were played, which is against conduct rules.

Bartlett said drinking by members - which she said included some minors - was done off-campus at an informal party.

"A bunch of us were hanging out," Bartlett said. "It was not in the house. In our eyes, we tried to keep everything as clean as possible. We don't drink in the house or do anything in the house. All Greeks drink when underage. We never did it irresponsibly."

Francis said that underage drinking is common.

"Anyone knows college and high school kids drink," she said. "The (Greek) rules don't go with the times there are now. They're outdated."

Mike Jungers, associate dean of students, said rules regulating fraternity and sorority activities apply whether events are inside the house or off campus. He said alcohol is banned from new-member events.

A check of Springfield police records shows seven criminal reports from the house since October 2006, including three for liquor violations.

Investigation
The initial report of a blindfolded woman wearing the Sigma Sigma Sigma clothing being led into a house triggered the two-month investigation.

University officials contacted the sorority leaders about the report and were told that the members involved had been disciplined.

However, Jungers said, the university quickly learned of other incidents involving the sorority. "Information started tumbling into the university and what we were hearing was serious," he said.

MSU officials contacted the national headquarters of the sorority with their concerns. The national group, based in Virginia, owns the building on MSU's campus and sent officials to investigate.

Last week, the national office revoked the charter for the local sorority. The chapter appealed the decision to revoke the charter but was unsuccessful.

"The decision to close the chapter for failure to comply with national policies was made by the executive council of Sigma Sigma Sigma," according to a news release. "The closing of the chapter is not an easy decision. We value the contributions ... members have made over the years and when conditions are appropriate for our return, Sigma Sigma Sigma will actively seek the opportunity to become a productive and viable chapter at Missouri State University."

National leaders would not comment to the News-Leader about the incident.

Bill Hansen, whose daughter Dana Hansen was in the sorority, said he talked to MSU officials and national board members during their campus visit last week.

He expressed concern about how students were questioned.

"It seemed like they decided the girls were bad and evil and wanted to get them," said Hansen of Overland Park, Kan. "I said, 'Look, here's the deal. Even an accused murderer gets representation. Give them their day in court.' "

Hansen said the rules regulating sororities may be too intrusive. He pointed out that members are in trouble for having a party at a beach house with both members and non-members.

"Where do you draw the line and stop regulating the girls' lives away from the sorority?" he asked.

Suspension
Shortly after the investigation got underway, MSU informed the sorority that it was suspended as a student organization. That meant it could not engage in any social or recreational activities or recruit any new members.

At MSU, fraternity and sorority life is governed by a board made up of representatives from various Greek-letter organizations.

The decisions issued by the board are generally accepted by the university. The board could have yanked the sorority's charter if the national council had not taken action.

Jungers said in this case, the investigation began as the semester was ending and the board was in transition. The sorority issue was expected to come up this spring before a new board.

A week ago, the national Sigma Sigma Sigma office informed members that the house was closing and they would have to find new living quarters.

That was about the same time that MSU sent a letter to members' parents, warning them that the sorority was under investigation and could be closed down.

Bartlett said MSU didn't have the right to contact parents without the students' permission because of federal student privacy laws. "Parents had nothing to do with this. They shouldn't have gotten a letter," she said.

But Jungers said the letter was informing parents about the status of the organization, not their student, so it was allowed.

"We felt it important to notify parents of the allegations. If the sorority was suspended or the charter taken, there could be housing issues," he said. "We wanted to involve parents with accurate information."

Bartlett has moved into an apartment across the street. She started looking in December when it looked like the sorority might shut down.

"I'm really disappointed and feel bad for the new girls," Bartlett said.

As for herself, Bartlett said she's glad she had a chance to experience a sorority.

"I still think Greek life is a good thing. I made good friends. I met my best friend. We're still all going to stay in touch. I think what happened still hasn't set in yet."

© 2008 Springfield News-Leader

Northern Illinois U. Sig Eps under fire

(Mini-comment: the best way to avoid news stories like this is to avoid behavior that attracts "unwelcome attention" from the college.)

Nasty allegations at NIU. It has gotten to the point where NIU is corresponding with Craig Templeton, SigEp's national executive director, about whether the chapter there will be closed.

The Northern Illinois University chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon is facing potentially strict judicial punishment for a number of incidents over the past several years.

According to documents acquired by the Northern Star from NIU Judicial Affairs via a Freedom of Information Act request, the fraternity's violations include underage alcohol consumption, racially motivated harassment of another fraternity and several violent incidents, among other infractions.
[...]
NIU Judicial Affairs director Larry Bolles, in correspondence obtained between he and Craig Templeton of the Sigma Phi Epsilon national office, recommended the fraternity's NIU chapter be shut down.

"Recent actions taken by ... Sigma Phi Epsilon have created a dangerous environment for the NIU Greek System as well as the NIU community as a whole. The Chapter's actions pose a clear and present danger causing concern for the safety and welfare of our students," Bolles said in the letter. "Those incidents, combined with past incidents, have led to the conclusion that the NIU chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon must be closed down. The environment created by their most recent actions is dangerous to the safety and welfare of those who reside on Greek Row."

Maybe the alleged events at Bradley didn't warrant a "frat-boy" label, but these do...

According to the correspondence between Bolles and Templeton, Sigma Phi Epsilon, ("Sig Eps") on Aug. 26,, 2007, held a social event in violation of Greek Affairs and Intrafraternity Council (IFC) regulations. As a result of the violations, the IFC restricted the fraternity's ability to hold social and recruiting events. Sigma Alpha Mu ("Sammies") was the complainant in the incident, as its house is located close to the Sig Eps house, according to the letter.

After the Sammies reported the incident, Sig Eps retaliated by, on several occasions, harassing Sammies members with racial slurs, Bolles said in the letter. The incidents led to "increased tensions among the chapters on Greek Row," and "created an atmosphere that is no way conducive to the Greek lifestyle and has created the potential for violence," Bolles said.
[...]
On April 21, 2007, one month after a deferred suspension, Sigma Phi Epsilon was issued citations for allowing underage alcohol consumption to occur at its house, Bolles said in the letter. Four individuals were cited for underage consumption that evening, all of whom stated they were drinking at the Sig Eps house.
[...]
According to the correspondence between Bolles and Templeton, a Sig Eps member threw beer bottles at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house on April 26, 2007. When the chapter was confronted by Greek Row security, the security officers were treated disrespectfully by Sig Eps members, which security workers state has been a recurring problem with the fraternity. Sig Eps members reportedly would tell security workers "you work for us" and "you don't tell us what to do," Bolles said in the letter.

The Bradley SigEps were quick to defend their actions in the comments section. Does the NIU chapter have excuses too?

Northern Illinois U. Sig Eps under fire