Fourth Rape Reported at University of Texas at Arlington

Fourth Rape Reported at University of Texas at Arlington | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth:

Less than a month into the fall semester, University of Texas at Arlington police are investigating four sexual assaults, including three at a fraternity house.

The latest incident was reported to police on Saturday at the Life Science building in the heart of campus.

Police have released few details about the attack, but it is not believed to be related to three sexual assaults reported in late August and early September. Those incidents -- Aug. 23, Aug. 24 and Sept. 7 -- reportedly occurred at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house.

The fraternity's national office said in a statement Tuesday that it has ordered the UTA chapter "to cease and desist operations." The national fraternity said it is assisting in the investigation and that a representative from its office visited with UTA administration Tuesday.

The national office also said it would "bring additional sanctions against any member whose conduct is determined to be inconsistent with the fraternity's values or Texas state law."

UTA issued an interim suspension to a male student in connection with the Sept. 7 report. The university also placed five fraternity chapters on interim suspension while it investigates allegations of alcohol abuse by students younger than 21 and other violations of university policies and procedures.

The university investigations are separate from the police investigations into the sexual assault allegations, UTA spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said.

Students said they were shocked to hear that a fourth sexual assault had been reported.

"It kind of makes you wonder what happened, if it could have been avoided, what the university can do to prevent those kind of things," senior Helen Moyo said.

Some students said they had not heard about the most recent attack.

"That's really unsettling and kind of terrifying," Moyo said.

Sophomore Hannah Summers said it is making her think about what she does to be safe.

"I guess I'll make sure to be more careful, like where I park and if I park under a light where it's darker," Summers said.

In an email, Sullivan said that UTA is committed to ensuring a healthy, safe and secure environment.

"In addition to the investigations, the university is conducting a broad assessment of its policies, operations and compliance related to Greek organizations," she said.

NBC 5's Mola Lenghi contributed to this report.

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Northwestern : IFC kicks off annual winter recruitment - sans SigEp

Starting over at Northwestern.

The Daily Northwestern : IFC kicks off annual winter recruitment


For the Interfraternity Council, this year's recruitment will look a little different.
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On the men’s side, the North Campus quad will offer a reshuffled set of options from a year ago. Gone are Chi Psi and Sigma Phi Epsilon, and Delta Tau Delta will participate in formal winter recruitment for the first time since their return to campus last year.
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Despite disaffiliating all of its members following a membership review this fall, Sig Ep will not be leaving campus or the IFC. Instead, national representatives will be coming to NU this week, and the chapter will participate in some of the activities of formal recruitment, Sig Ep’s director of fraternity operations Andrew Lemens told The Daily on Tuesday. The headquarters began informational meetings on campus Wednesday and they will continue Thursday, according to the IFC website.

Sig Ep disaffiliates members following alumni review

The chapter members who were disaffiliated are “not eligible or invited" to join the new Sig Ep chapter on campus.

The Daily Northwestern : BREAKING: Sig Ep disaffiliates members following alumni review

BREAKING: Sig Ep disaffiliates members following alumni review
PAULINA FIROZI, MANAGING EDITOR
January 8, 2013

All members of Northwestern’s chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon are officially disaffiliated from the organization after the national fraternity suspended members this summer.

Andrew Lemens, Sig Ep’s director of fraternity operations, said the national fraternity intervened when questionable behavior exhibited by the brothers “got to a point where it was detrimental to their success.” He said a group of alumni was assigned to evaluate members of the fraternity through Fall Quarter and determined they would not be able to continue as members of Sig Ep.

“It became quickly apparent through interviews and some follow up processes that there weren’t any members in that current group who are capable of detaching themselves of the former chapter experience, who were willing and able to do the things necessary to sustain Sigma Phi Epsilon at Northwestern,” Lemens said.

Although no previous members will remain in the chapter, Sip Ep will remain affiliated with the University. Lemens said the national fraternity is working with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Division of Student Affairs to reestablish the organization with new members for Spring Quarter.

He said Sig Ep representatives will be on campus starting this week to begin recruiting unaffiliated men who are “interested in joining and building a premiere fraternity experience.” The organization will participate in some of the formal recruitment activities that begin for the Interfraternity Council this week.

Speaker encourages panhellenic members to buy in or get out - Daily Campus - Southern Methodist University

David Stollman tells it right.

Speaker encourages panhellenic members to buy in or get out - Daily Campus - Southern Methodist University

The simple statement “Buy In or Get Out” flashed on the screen in the Hughes-Trigg Ballroom Sunday evening as Panhellenic women from each sorority chapter on campus filled the room for the “Stand Up, Stand Out” lecture by David Stollman.

“I’m not here to blow sunshine at you,” Stollman said. “I’m pretty blunt and pretty honest.”

Stollman, who is the co-founder of Campuspeak and hazingprevention.org, has traveled to campuses countrywide for 15 years, encouraging Greek communities to “inject some backbone into their membership standards.”

As an active volunteer for his fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon and the current chapter advisor for Alpha Sigma Tau sorority at New York University, Stollman has his finger on the pulse of Greek life, its stereotypes, and what needs to be done to fix them.

“I do what I do because I believe in sororities and fraternities. This is what I do by choice, because what we do makes a difference,” he said.

Stollman immediately engaged the audience with his humor, cracking jokes about the common stereotypes that describe fraternities and sororities. He then had the audience call out adjectives that are frequently used to describe members of Greek life. A few included jerks, alcoholics, hazers, partiers, snobs and airheads.

“Would our founders be proud?” he asked.

To enforce his point, Stollman showed a slideshow of pictures of college Greeks around the country, doing exactly what those adjectives described. He proved that there is much that needs to be fixed when it comes to the current image of Greek life.

“I don’t want these stereotypes hung around my neck,” he said.  “Be the ones that don’t tolerate it.”

A Novice's Guide to Tailgating

From a SigEp at LSU (don't judge); good tips for anyone.

The Odyssey Online - LSU - Sigma Phi Epsilon - A Novice's Guide to Tailgating

Andrew Alexander

Sigma Phi Epsilon

Saturday marks the season opener for the LSU football team. Fans young and old must only wait a few more days before they get to witness LSU’s new high-powered offense, led by Zach Mettenberger and his stable of running backs. The roar of the most inebriated crowd in the country will be heard for miles as “Callin’ Baton Rouge” plays inside Death Valley during the pregame festivities. However, before the sun finds its home in the western sky and our ears are tickled by the sonorous voice of Dan Borne reminding us the chance of rain is “Never!,” there’s another matter Tiger fans must attend to: tailgating. 

Tailgating is the most integral part of the game day experience outside of the game itself. It’s a conglomeration of RVs, tents, couches, grills, Dixie cups and speakers, drenched in every shade of purple and gold, stretching beyond the farthest reaches of campus. Ladies wear their finest game day dresses adorned with their “(insert sorority here) loves the Tigers!” sticker, while the gents don their best looking purple and gold frattire.

Obviously as Greeks, I don’t have to educate most of you on the nuances of the tailgating scene, but for the new crop of freshmen and anyone else who may have forgotten our beloved game day tradition, here’s some advice to make your tailgating experience as fulfilling as possible.

Pace Yourself -  Tailgating is a marathon not a sprint. Pounding brewskis like an Adderall-filled chimpanzee at 10 a.m. probably isn’t the best strategy if you want to make it to see the Tigers kickoff. There’s nothing worse than missing the game and having to catch the highlights on Sports Center. Have a good time, but rage responsibly.

Koozie Up - No one likes to shake a cold, wet hand. Whether it’s a cola or a beer, every drink should be clothed with your favorite koozie. While plentiful and easy to find, you can tell a lot about a person by the koozie he or she uses. And for the record, it’s called a koozie, not a “huggie.” This isn’t Starkville, MS.

Stay Hydrated - Tailgating is an all-day affair for most, and it’s no secret that Louisiana is pretty hot and humid this time of year. Mix in a fews cups of water or Gatorade to ensure that you beat the heat.

Don’t Forget Your Ticket - One of the worst feelings in the world is walking all the way out to the Parade Grounds  - or worse  Tiger   Stadium - and realizing you forgot to print out your ticket. On game days, a ticket is more valuable than King Midas’ gold. Make sure to grab yours before you walk out the door.

Cool It On the Party Pics - This one is directed to the ladies, you know who you are, that insist on taking a picture with every single person at the tailgate. A few pictures to commemorate the day and your new game day dress are fine, but you don’t need to break up every conversation just to get a picture with your “bestie!”

Watch Out for Law Enforcement - While neither The Odyssey nor myself condone underage drinking, it undoubtedly will happen while tailgating. Make sure to put whatever beverage you’re drinking in a Styrofoam cup, and it’s usually wise to only consume under the safety of your tailgate tent or area. If you’re the wise guy who decides to roam the campus with a tall boy in hand, don’t be surprised if you get a minor  possession citation.

Lastly, get excited! Football season is almost here! The Tigers face a long road to Miami, but I know the Purple and Gold faithful will be with them every step of the way, one tailgate at a time.

Cal Poly Adds Staff to Work on Greek Behavior

Poly to hire staff to deal with Greek behavior
By Nick Wilson

Cal Poly will hire two new staff members to advise fraternity and sorority members on responsible social behavior in the wake of a student’s fraternity-related death in December. It’s one of several steps the university is taking to try to prevent situations like the one that led to the death of 18-year-old Carson Starkey. Starkey died of alcohol poisoning after allegedly being hazed as he pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Four students were arrested Thursday in connection with the death, and a university official said Starkey’s story will help poignantly instruct other students on what not to do in the future.

The university is conducting a national search for the new staff, who will be paid a combined $125,000 a year, including benefits, said Stephan Lamb, the university’s associate director of student life and leadership.

“We hope to have them on board by Aug. 1,” he said, noting that the university is using general fund resources to pay for them.

Students in Greek organizations also must sign agreements with the university to comply with a strict policy of no hazing and a risk-management plan for any alcohol-related event, Lamb said. Groups that violate the agreement will face scrutiny from campus officials and risk suspensions from recruiting new members on campus as well as disaffiliation from the university. Individuals also will risk losing their affiliation with Cal Poly for any improper behavior.

Lamb said it’s difficult to know everything that happens off campus, and the university doesn’t have authority to stop a party off campus, though officials can try to deter one if they find out about it in advance. But officials can work with members on being responsible and will revoke charters or implement other disciplinary action if necessary - particularly if police reports describe reckless or illegal behavior.

Cal Poly revoked SAE’s charter indefinitely and said this week that nine students have either permanently withdrawn from the university or have been suspended for at least one year as a result of the investigation into Starkey’s death. Greek organizations at Cal Poly now are strictly prohibited from having alcohol-related activities during the pledging process. Should they violate this rule, they likely wouldn’t continue to exist on campus, Lamb said.

But for off-campus events that don’t involve pledges and where members who are older than 21 are drinking, the new Greek compliance agreement says the groups must card attendees so underage students aren’t served alcohol, and must keep a certain percentage of partygoers sober to drive.

University officials already warn fraternity and sorority members, including pledges, of the dangers of binge drinking and other activities through talks and videos.

Since Starkey’s death on Dec. 2, the university has held four forums involving Greek students to try to change unhealthy culture and traditions that may still exist within the groups - including hazing. Much of those talks were targeted at leaders of the organizations who have the potential to strongly influence other students in their groups. These kinds of programs will be expanded next year, officials say.

University officials said that they have looked into banning Greek organizations from the campus, but found that at colleges where this has occurred, the groups operate independently of officials, which can be even more dangerous.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/728015.html