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'

UT Arlington SigEp Chapter Gets Reduced Suspension

UT Arlington fraternity now faces one year suspension | Arlington | News from Fort Worth...:

BY DIANE SMITH dianesmith@star-telegram.com

DIANE SMITH STAR-TELEGRAM

The Sigma Phi Epsilon house at UTA will be vacant from 

Dec. 31 through Aug. 31, 2014, according to its suspension.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/11/27/5374564/ut-arlington-fraternity-now-faces.html#storylink=cpy

ARLINGTON — The suspension for the University of Texas at Arlington chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon has been reduced to one year in connection with providing alcohol to minors as young as 14.

The fraternity originally faced a three-year suspension, but that punishment was changed after an appeal.

A Nov. 19 final outcome letter to the fraternity states: “… the chapter is lucky more serious outcomes did not result from these events.”

The letter, signed by UTA assistant professor Paul Krawietz, adds, “I feel the supporting evidence does not warrant suspension for three years.”

Krawietz, the appointed hearing officer, could not be reached for comment Wednesday morning.

Christofer Slocum, president of the fraternity, could not be reached for comment.

Sigma Phi Epsilon is accused of selling mixed drinks to underage people at a “Glow Party” that was part of the fraternity’s Aug. 23-Sept. 7 Bid Day activities. Bid Day, when students are accepted into fraternities and sororities, was Sept. 7.

The fraternity is accused of allowing seven to 10 teens ages 14 to 18 into a party at the frat house, where they consumed alcohol with the fraternity’s members. Fraternity members are also accused of drinking alcohol in the morning in common areas before and after new member orientation.

Under the current disciplinary sanctions, Sigma Phi Epsilon will be on suspension through Aug. 31, 2014 and all members living at the fraternity house must be out before Dec. 31. No one will be allowed to live in the house, at 705 S. Davis Dr., until Sept. 1, 2014, according to the outcome letter.

Additional disciplinary actions include:

• No social activities from Sept. 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015.

• Members must attend training, which focuses on college life responsibilities with regard to alcohol, drugs and sexual violence.

• Members must attend City of Arlington minor in possession course by Jan. 31.

• The chapter must host two community alcohol awareness events.

• Ten hours of community service per member must be completed by Jan. 31.

After an investigation, UTA also put three other fraternities — Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Chi and Pi Kappa Alpha — on probation until May 31 for underage drinking and unregistered parties surrounding Bid Day activities. A fifth fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, was put on interim suspension because of allegations of hazing and early acceptance of a pledge.

Sigma Chi initially appealed its suspension but has since withdrawn its appeal, said Kristin Sullivan, spokeswoman for UTA.

UT Arlington police are still investigating two criminal cases involving allegations of sexual assault, on Aug. 23 and Sept. 7, at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house, but those investigations are separate from the student conduct investigations.

Police have stated in both cases that the suspect was known to the victim. No further information has been released.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/11/27/5374564/ut-arlington-fraternity-now-faces.html#storylink=cpy

SigEp Fraternity receives 3-year suspension as UTA ends investigations

SigEp at UT Arlington has received a 3-year suspension. Anything I add would be snarky so I'll just hope an appeal is successful.

Fraternity receives 3-year suspension as UTA ends investigations - The Shorthorn : Campus:

One fraternity is suspended from UTA for three years, three others are on probation until the end of May and another is no longer on interim suspension following investigations into reports of misconduct, according to a UTA spokeswoman.

The fraternities – Sigma Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi and Alpha Tau Omega – were placed on interim suspensions in September related to activities on fraternity Bid Day on Sept. 7, according to university officials.

The five fraternities were notified the investigations were concluded, university spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said in an email Oct. 25.

Following the investigations, Sigma Phi Epsilon has been suspended from the university for three years and may not participate in chapter activities, Sullivan said in the email.

“The organization may petition in January 2017 to establish an active chapter at UT Arlington as of June 1, 2017,” the email stated.

Three other fraternities, Alpha Tau Omega, Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Chi, are on probation through May 31, 2014.

During probation, the fraternities are prohibited from hosting social events or participating in fraternity events where alcohol is present.

The fraternities can appeal and request a formal hearing, Sullivan said in the email.

Pi Kappa Phi is no longer on interim suspension, according to the email. However, the university found that the chapter offered early bids and referred it to the Interfraternity Council, according to the email.

The investigations began sometime after Bid Day in September, Sullivan previously said.
Sigma Phi Epsilon and Pi Kappa Phi were first issued interim suspensions “related to unregistered parties and possible use of alcohol by individuals under the age of 21,” according to the university.

Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi and Alpha Tau Omega were investigated in connection with underage alcohol use.

Additionally, Alpha Tau Omega was investigated in connection with “possible use of illegal drugs,” according to a previous university statement.

Sigma Phi Epsilon president Christofer Slocum did not immediately return calls from The Shorthorn. In a text message, he said the fraternity plans to challenge the sanctions "by proceeding to a trial."

In a previous article, Slocum denied the fraternity hosted an unregistered party Sept . 7. Instead, he said some fraternity members attended a party at the home of an alumnus who was celebrating a new job.

“I have no control over what a graduate of UTA does at his residence,” Slocum said at the time.

Sigma Chi president Aaron Hobbs said his fraternity thinks the sanctions are heavier than what it expected and will likely appeal.

The Shorthorn is attempting to reach Alpha Tau Omega, Pi Kappa Alpha and Pi Kappa Phi presidents for comment.

@KristaMTorralva
krista.torralva@mavs.uta.edu

'via Blog this'

Student arrested, says SigEp members forced him to drink

Let's hope that this turns out not to be the whole story. If it is, SigEps at Central Arkansas got some 'splainin' to do.

Student arrested, says Sig Ep members forced him to drink | The Echo | ucaecho.net:

Eighteen-year-old student Nolan Foster was arrested for public intoxication at the Rock the Yard concert Sept. 6. He told UCAPD that Sigma Phi Epsilon members made him drink.

A UCAPD officer was working a shift at Sig Ep’s Rock the Yard concert outside Irby Hall when they noticed Foster leaving the concert. He could not walk in a straight line and vomited on his way to Bruce Street.

Foster reaked of alcohol when an officer spoke with him. The officer asked him how much he had to drink and he replied “A lot.” Foster also said some of the members of the Sig Ep fraternity took him to a house and told him that if he wanted to be in the fraternity, he would have to drink.

The officer arrested Foster for public intoxication. He said he was confused as to why he was being arrested, although the officer continued to repeat his charge. A second officer arrived and took Foster to a Faulkner County unit.

- See more at: http://ucaecho.net/police/student-arrested-says-sig-ep-members-forced-him-to-drink/#sthash.rsrU8YFu.dpuf

DKE's Off Campus Party Results in 80 Being Cited

80 WFU students cited

By Paul Garber and Lisa O’Donnell

Administrators at Wake Forest University are dealing with another alcohol-related incident after 80 students were busted for underage drinking at an off-campus fraternity house early Sunday.

The citations come on the heels of a revamped alcohol policy intended to promote moderate and responsible drinking among students.

Eighty-one people were cited - all but one of them Wake Forest students. In addition, authorities said that more serious charges may be filed.

Fire officials are seeking criminal charges after investigators found that the fire detectors had been covered up with plastic cups and duct tape.

Ken Zick, a vice president and dean of student affairs, said he and others had been feeling optimistic that students were heeding the message to drink responsibly.

“We’ve been working so hard all semester on this and it’s really very frustrating,’’ Zick said. “Our off-campus violations are significantly down so we’re pretty disappointed with this incident.”

Police went to the house at 1101 Polo Road just before 2 a.m. Sunday after getting a call about an assault. It turned out that someone called police after having a beer thrown on them, police Lt. Brad Yandell said. In all, 14 police officers went to the scene.

Police estimated that there were from 200 to 300 people in the house, many of whom were underage. The house was so crowded that police called in the fire department, which issued several citations for code violations.

Fire investigators found numerous safety problems in addition to the overcrowded conditions and the disabled fire alarms, including the fact that a back exit was blocked during the party, said Robert Owens, a city assistant fire chief and fire marshal.

“We were lucky,” Owens said. “If there had been a fire out there, there would have been fatalities, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

Zick said he was not aware of any cases of alcohol abuse or medical emergencies.

In January, six people were sent to local hospitals for treatment of alcohol poisoning after an off-campus “pledge night” party. Although the official party was held at the Millennium Center in downtown Winston-Salem, many students drank heavily on campus. Six of them ended up in the emergency rooms of local hospitals, forcing Forsyth County officials to shut down the party at the Millennium Center.

That party prompted university officials to review and revamp their alcohol policy. The new policy includes standards of conduct for off-campus activities, such as Sunday’s party, which was at the Psi Delta chapter of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

The 10,400-square-foot, two-story brick building was built in 2004 and has an assessed value of $851,800, according to Forsyth County tax records.

Police had not responded to any underage-drinking complaints at the home in the past year, Yandell said.

Scott Dalgliesh, the president of the chapter, wouldn’t comment on the party yesterday, except to note that none of those charged lived at the house.

Calls to the fraternity’s national office were not returned.

The fraternity and students involved in the bust will be referred to Zick’s office, which oversees the university’s internal judicial process.

Under the university’s new alcohol policy, Greek organizations found in violation face a variety of sanctions ranging from a fine to loss of a pledge class. After a second violation, the university could pull the organization’s charter.

“They are on notice,” Zick said of Delta Kappa Epsilon.

The university will be keeping tabs on student drinking this weekend when the football team plays its last home game of the season. On campuses around the country, seniors often drink a fifth of liquor on the day of their school’s last home football game, a ritual known as “Senior Fifth.”

Zick said student leaders have come up with alternative programs such as a concert. Some of the seniors have taken a pledge not to participate in Senior Fifth.

“Hopefully, we’ll turn the ship around on that one,” Zick said. “But cultural changes take more than one year to achieve. It takes a whole student generation.”

Dartmouth Looks to UNH for Alcohol Rules

UNH sets example for policy change
By Ryan Kim

Before the University of New Hampshire’s chapter of Zeta Chi Beta fraternity was charged for providing alcohol to underage students in 1993, Greek life at the University of New Hampshire more closely resembled Dartmouth’s Greek scene, according to several UNH students contacted by The Dartmouth. The resulting changes in the social scene at UNH could be an indication of changes that Dartmouth students would face if the Hanover Police Department’s proposed alcohol law compliance checks are implemented, several Dartmouth students said.

In a Feb. 4 meeting with students, Hanover Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone announced plans to implement alcohol law compliance checks in College Greek organizations. Officials with Hanover Police cited a New Hampshire Supreme Court decision involving the fraternity as precedent for imposing felony-level fines of up to $100,000 on Greek organizations for serving alcohol to minors.

In “The State of New Hampshire vs. Zeta Chi Beta,” the Court classified the fraternity as a corporation, making it subject to felony charges for serving alcohol to underage individuals. The Court upheld Zeta Chi’s sentence, which included two years of probation that made the physical plant subject to unannounced searches by the N.H. Department of Corrections to determine compliance with state alcohol law.

Partly as a result of the decision, the fraternity lost recognition from UNH, according to the UNH Greek Life web site.

Giaccone announced Wednesday that implementation of the policy would be delayed, in order to allow the College and student groups to formulate a plan to reduce student alcohol abuse.

After the Court rendered its decision, the Greek system at UNH closed its doors, according to Benjamin Coleman, president of the UNH chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Many of the fraternities, concerned about sizable fines, began to host invitation-only parties.

While the number of alcohol related arrests have remained the same, the number of arrests involving fraternities has diminished, according to Coleman. Rather, there has been an increase in arrests involving private parties both on and off campus.

“I think that there’s been an increase in the number of private parties because it’s harder for underage students to get alcohol at [fraternities,]” Coleman said. “A lot of these arrests now are coming from room parties.”

Opponents of the Hanover Police policy have argued that, by cracking down on alcohol consumption at fraternity and sorority events, police will force students to drink elsewhere and to drink hard liquor, as opposed to beer. As such, they argue, the policy would have a negative effect on student health and could exacerbate student drinking.

Most fraternities continue to operate under strict alcohol policies. Fraternities cannot serve alcohol and parties have a mandated bring-your-own alcohol policy, according to Matt Steckowych, a junior at UNH and secretary of the UNH chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

“I can’t remember the last time I could walk into a [fraternity] and see a keg in the corner,” Steckowych said.

Greek policy at UNH mandates that each guest can bring only one six-pack of beer per night, that each guest over the age of 21 must wear a wristband at parties and that fraternities must have four sober monitors at every party, Steckowych said. Each year has brought stricter limitations, he added.

Steckowych said that the social scene at UNH is more exclusive now than it was during his freshman year, adding that most registered parties held by Greek organizations have guest lists.

The Greek system at UNH has mostly adhered to the alcohol policies, according to Coleman.

“We’ve actively attempted to change the social policy for all Greek houses holding social events to keep them closed, and for all houses that register for parties to submit a guest list,” Coleman said.

The strict alcohol policies have limited social options for students, particularly for freshmen, according to Ryan Garbe, treasurer of the UNH chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha.

“It isn’t too hard to get on the lists for the parties here, but again, there is a list,” Garbe said. “Since it’s hard to get on every guest list, a lot of the freshmen just stick to one or two frats.”

The Dartmouth Greek system currently has an open-door policy for all students. Students have expressed concern that, were Hanover Police to implement alcohol law compliance checks, Greek organizations would begin to close events to outsiders.

Although fraternities at UNH have been threatened with heavy fines or prosecution, fraternities at colleges and universities elsewhere in New Hampshire have not been involved in major cases in which they faced serious fines or felony charges for serving alcohol to minors.
Dartmouth fraternity members have said that they plan to be cautious about who they admit to future parties.

“It’s been said before, but if this process ends up going through, it’s going to drive drinking into dorm rooms and other decentralized places,” Matt Applegate ’10, a member of Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity, said.

Greek organizations at Dartmouth may have to enact policies similar to those found at UNH if the sting operations do become a reality, according to Zachary Gottlieb ’10, president of the Interfraternity Council and social chair of Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity.

Gottlieb is a member of The Dartmouth Staff.

Gottlieb said he is optimistic that Dartmouth’s Greek scene will not be similarly affected, given the indefinite delay on Hanover Police’s implementation of the compliance check policy.

“The ball’s in our court to make the [fraternity] system a safer environment, and we hope to show that we can achieve this without this new alcohol policy,” Gottlieb said.

Georgia Fraternity Gets Probation for Underage Drinking

Sigma Chi gains probation following party that spurred lawsuit
By: CAREY O'NEIL

The University of Georgia chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity was put on probation after hosting a party where they served alcohol to minors and ignored risk management protocol, which resulted in severe injuries to one partygoer.

The underage woman who sustained the injuries filed a lawsuit against the fraternity in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court, stating she was invited to the party as one fraternity member's guest and served numerous alcoholic beverages "to the extent she became highly and obviously intoxicated."

According to the lawsuit, the fraternity brother who brought her to the party took her to his loft bed which was several feet above the floor and had no railing. He removed her dress and planned to "return to sleep with her," then left the room for 45 minutes.

When he returned, the woman had fallen off the loft and was bleeding from her mouth and ear, soaking the carpet with her blood and teeth fragments. The woman had 19 damaged and missing teeth, damage to her ear canal, a fracture to her mandible and nerve damage. She is requesting the fraternity pay her medical expenses in excess of $100,000.

As a result of the fraternity's probation, they will be allowed to hold only seven social events where alcohol is served, in addition to informal tailgates during football season. Members of the fraternity will also be required to attend several educational programs, according to the organization's informal resolution agreement.

The fraternity member named in the lawsuit as having invited the woman to the party has also been put on probation for alcohol related misconduct after being arrested by University Police and charged with underage possession of alcohol and possession of a fake ID.

Sigma Chi has not been the only fraternity to run in to trouble this summer.

Two University students were arrested last month after hiding two streakers from police in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house. One student locked police out of the house and "stood at the door with a half smile," according to police reports. The other student opened the door but blocked the officers' entry.

Both students were charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer and allegedly refusing to ID the streakers, who were not found.

During the summer's first orientation session, an incoming freshman was arrested and charged with underage possession of alcohol and possession of a fake ID after attending a fraternity party. The arrest sparked a flurry of communications among the Interfraternity Council, Greek Life Office and Panhellenic Council, reminding fraternity and sorority members not to disrupt orientation.However, it seems the warnings haven't worked. After returning from orientation, one parent felt the need to contact the Interfraternity Council complaining about a fraternity.

"My son was invited to a fraternity house Monday night where he was offered a beer and witnessed alcoholic beverages being consumed," one parent said in an e-mail. "I thought you might want to know this and warn these kids to be careful in how they conduct themselves."

http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2009/07/29/News/Sigma.Chi.Gains.Probation.Following.Party.That.Spurred.Lawsuit-3753177.shtml

The Dalai Lama on Ritual

One of the people I follow on Twitter is @HisHoliness. The person is not the "real" Dalai Lama, but someone who tweets quotes from his works. Today I saw this set of 'tweets' and realized it speaks to how we as Sig Eps view our "secret" rituals.

When thru rituals and formalities you create the spiritual space you're seeking, the process will have a powerful effect on your experience.

When you lack the inner dimension for that spiritual experience you are aspiring to, then rituals become formalities, external rations.

In that case, clearly, they lose their meaning and become unnecessary customs -- just a good excuse for passing time.

There have been a lot of stories on this blog lately about hazing, and alcohol related injuries or deaths in the greek system. I would venture to say that the people involved in those incidents were probably not using their group's rituals and ideals to "create the spiritual space they are seeking".

What about you? Does/did the practice of our ritual inspire you to reflection and create a "spiritual space"? Did it have an effect on your experience? Or was it just an excuse for passing time?

Vanderbilt SEC Suspended

Sigma Phi Epsilon suspended for semester
Submitted by Hannah Twillman

The brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon colony now face an "unprecedented situation," according to Vice President of Programming Ralph Passarella.

After a situation involving an underground pledge in February, the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct brought several charges against both the colony and individual members, resulting in the decision to suspend the colony.

According to Passarella, nine total charges were brought against the fraternity, including underground pledging, an off-campus party, distribution to minors and hazing - a record number of charges.

Passarella said the fraternity president, junior Chris Baity, pled guilty to all nine.

Director of Greek Life Kristin Torrey said the decision was made to suspend the colony until Aug. 1, after which time the former members will be eligible to undergo a membership review. After meeting these requirements, the colony could reorganize and would be on social probation for one year.

Passarella said all of the members have had their memberships revoked, but will be re-instated after undergoing a membership review and realigning with the ideals of the national fraternity. He also added that none of the members will be able to live off campus, an issue he thinks will be difficult to overcome.

"We've used an off-campus house in recent semesters to fulfill the fraternal and social needs that would be provided for by house on campus. The lack of a common meeting place is definitely going to be an issue we have to address," he said.

In a statement, Torrey said several Greek organizations have been able to take part in the Greek community despite not having houses, also saying that no organization is permitted to have an off-campus house.

"Recognition from Vanderbilt University is not contingent upon having a house," she said. "Several chapters are non-housed and are recognized members of the Vanderbilt Greek community."

"As a young IFC fraternity, it becomes difficult to compete (especially in recruitment) when you have a tiny fraction of the resources of nearly every other fraternity. One such resource is an on-campus house," Baity said.

Baity and Passarella said the administration is confident that the colony will be able to overcome these difficulties, both due to its past performance and its current efforts to fix many of the mistakes made. Having only been on campus for five years, the colony won Chapter of the Year for the Interfraternity Council last year, among several other awards.

"They really firmly believe that we can turn this around, that these problems aren't necessarily systematic. They're things that we were already phasing out," he said.

Torrey said that the members' honesty was appreciated and taken into account when deciding the consequences.

"It should be noted that the new members, brothers and officers of Sigma Phi Epsilon were honest and forthright throughout the investigation and hearing process. This resulted in a more educational and rehabilitative sanction than merely suspending the group for a longer period of time," she said.

Passarella said the officers and members aren't entirely sure how best to move forward, but are definitely determined to reorganize.

Bucknell Fundraiser Gets 85 Busted

Police raid fraternity fundraiser
By Mike McPheeNews Editor

Police issued 85 underage drinking citations Friday night, mostly to students, when the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB) busted a party held at Big Andy’s Bar & Grill in Milton.

The event fundraiser was called “Pandamonium” and was sponsored by the brothers of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

The number of citations issued “is kind of uncommon,” said Sergeant Jeffrey McGinnis, the LCB officer handling the case.

According to a police report, the management at Big Andy’s had contacted the Milton police to alert them of suspected underage drinking.

Milton Police Chief Craig Lutcher said members of his police force confronted several intoxicated students on the street outside the bar at approximately 10:30 p.m. All six of the students received citations for underage consumption and possession of alcohol. The officers decided there was a high likelihood of more underage drinking inside the bar and alerted the LCB, who arrived on the scene around midnight.

According to McGinnis, the LCB generally does not deal with situations where a licensed establishment has more than a handful of underage drinkers. Protocol for dealing with large situations such as this one is determined on a case-by-case basis.

The LCB, assisted by police officers from the Milton, Watsontown, Point Township and Lewisburg police departments, contained the crowd within Big Andy’s, allowing people to leave only after they had spoken to an officer. All attendees were asked to give their names to the police. Many students underwent portable breathalyzer tests.

In total, there were 85 citations of underage drinking, three citations for disorderly conduct and one student caught with fake identification.

Some students were not able to return to campus until approximately 5 a.m. The students who received citations will face individual hearings before a judge to determine the penalty for their offenses.

Penalties vary based on the number of prior offenses. Common penalties include a fine and suspended driver’s license.

“The goal of the event was to raise money to save a panda in China through the Wolong [Nature] Reserve,” said Peter Lansinger ’10, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. More than 350 people signed up for the event. Students attending paid a $20 fee in advance and were bused to the party from campus the night of the event. “[Sigma Phi Epsilon] arranged the venue.

Big Andy’s was responsible for holding the event. It was their job to monitor the serving of alcohol,” Lansinger said. The owner of Big Andy’s could not be reached for comment.

The University recently implemented a new policy to ban events from being held at Big Andy’s. This ban covers all events that need to be approved by the Dean of Students’ office.

The decision was made as part of the University’s “risk-management review” and was “based on information about previous events at that venue,” said Tom Evelyn, director of media relations. The University finalized the decision to ban future parties at Big Andy’s before Friday’s party.

Bucknell Sig Eps Fundraiser Raided by Police

Frat leaders blames bar owner after police raid
Event was fundraiser for pandas
By Marcia Moore The Daily Item

LEWISBURG -- Bucknell University's Sigma Phi Epsilon sponsored the fundraiser for panda preservation at Big Andy's Bar and Grill in Milton on Friday that ended in a law enforcement raid, but fraternity president Peter Lansinger denies any responsibility for the 90 or so people cited for underage drinking.

"Our fraternity does not condone underage drinking," Lansinger said Tuesday, adding it was bar owner Andy Keister Jr.'s responsibility to not serve anyone under 21.

Lansinger says he doubts Sigma Phi's local charter is in jeopardy.

Bucknell University public relations director Tom Evelyn said the incident is under review and couldn't say if the fraternity faces any sanctions.

Although there's nothing wrong with the fraternity holding a private party, Evelyn said, university officials are investigating the allegations of underage drinking.

Lansinger said a busing agency was hired to transport about 350 people to Friday's event, called Pandamonium, at the Front Street nightclub, and participants were invited to wear black and white.

He said identifications of each bus rider were checked by Sigma Phi to make sure only university students were taken to the event. But, Lansinger said, it was Keister's responsibility to make sure the individuals who entered the bar were of legal age.

About two-thirds of the fraternity's 90 members attended the fundraiser, which collected $5,600, he said.

At one point during the evening, Keister alerted law enforcement about alleged underage drinking, and members of the state liquor control enforcement, and Milton, Lewisburg, Watsontown and Point Township police raided the bar.

Police reported that more than 90 people, mostly Bucknell University students, were cited for underage drinking as well as disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

While Lansinger declined to talk about the charges stemming from the raid, he was willing to talk about Sigma Phi Epsilon's long-standing involvement in fundraising efforts.

"We outdo all the fraternities in philanthropy," Lansinger said. "Last year we were the number one fraternity in terms of fundraising, with $310 raised per brother. We do a great job in terms of getting people involved, and I don't think this (raid) will leave a black mark."

The main reason the fraternity decided to hold the Pandamonium event at Big Andy's last weekend was due to the overwhelming success of a fundraiser held at the bar in October.

Lansinger said Sigma Phi co-sponsored an event with Globe-Net, a student organization promoting awareness of Third World nations, that attracted hundreds to the Milton bar and raised $11,000 for the charity.

He acknowledged that the fraternity has been criticized for holding its latest fundraiser to save pandas, but said SigEp has raised thousands in the past year for the American Cancer Society.
We just wanted to spice it up and spread the money around," Lansinger said.

Sigma Phi Epsilon is the nation's largest social fraternity in terms of undergraduate membership. It is among 20 active fraternity and sororities on the Bucknell campus.
E-mail comments to mmoore@dailyitem.com.

High Schoolers at Frat Party Bad Combination

Investigation launched at Fulton, MO Fraternity
By Matt Grant

FULTON -- A Westminster College fraternity is accused of serving alcohol to underage high school students - one of whom, a 16-year old girl was later involved in a drunk driving accident.

The story has generated a lot of attention in the community and has brought the issue of underage drinking and driving back into the spotlight.

In an unscientific KRCG Online poll, 76 percent of viewers said underage drinking is a problem at their child's school.

On Friday, the streets were practically empty at Fraternity Row. But campus security was out in full force.

The fraternity house, Beta Theta Pi, next to Sigma Alpha Epsilon - the house where a 16-year-old Fulton High School student said she went to party - put up signs mocking the SAE house. They wrote "15 will get you 20" and "Silly SAE drinking's not for kids."

Security made them take down the signs.

Officials from Westminster College say they've suspended all social events for their six fraternities and two sororities. This, pending the outcome of their investigation.

"Everyone in the community of Fulton and all the Westminster College officials are on one page at working to see that these things do not occur," said Rob Crouse, a spokesperson for the college.

School officials say on Friday they met with the mayor, the chamber of commerce and the principal of Fulton High School. And they also reached out to the family of Stephanie Teter, the 16-year-old who told KRCG News she takes full responsibility for her DUI accident.

"I made a bad decision," said Teter, from her hospital bed. "Hopefully it'll help somebody else out."

The national headquarters for Sigma Alpha Epsilon, based near Chicago, said they're conducting their own investigation and that the fraternity must "cease and desist all chapter operations" pending the outcome.

"Sigma Alpha Epsilon has very strict risk management guidelines and policies and we expect our chapters to adhere to those," said Brandon Weghorst, a spokesperson for SAE. "Anytime that we have an alleged incident that takes place, we always look at those procedures and policies to see whether or not they were in place, and whether or not the chapter members were following them."

Weghorst said in the most serious case, the local chapter could lose its charter. The length of the Fulton chapter's suspension and the length of the SAE investigation are both indefinite.

from the first story
"There's a lot of kids that go to frat parties," said Stephanie Teter, 16, from her hospital bed.

"It's not that big of a deal really. We just hear [about] a party, go over there, hit it up for a little bit, have fun."

Stephanie, a junior softball player at Fulton High School, said she attended a frat party last weekend at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house located at 315 West 5th Street in Fulton. She says she went to the party with college friends and met up with her high school friends, who were already there.

But the fun ended when she left the party and wrecked her Ford Taurus around 4:30 a.m., less than a mile from her house.

"I got lucky but granted it was my fault," said Teter. "It shouldn't have happened. But the choices I made put me there."

Stephanie, who's now at University Hospital in Columbia, dislocated her hip and broke her femur. Doctors had to insert a metal rod, which runs from her hip to her knees.

Stephanie's parents brought the mangled car to Fulton High School, in full view of everyone, in hopes of deterring other students from making the same mistake.

"I think as long as it saves somebody's life or helps somebody out than that's all that matters to me," she said with tears in her eyes. "I made a bad decision and hopefully it'll help somebody else out."

Christina Case is Stephanie's mother and thinks the college hasn't paid enough attention to the situation.

"I know that college kids, [drinking] is just a part of growing up," said Case. "But whenever your high school children are allowed in these parties and there's nothing that's been done about it, and it's been an issue for a while, that's disturbing to me."

Maj. Roger Rice of the Fulton Police Dept. says their efforts have reduced the number of underage kids attending off campus parties.

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

"Alcohol may have been involved..."

SigEps at Bradley University are apparently all about being "fratboys." Sigma Chi is in second place.

Officers wrote 34 citations for illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor at two separate parties between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. Saturday.

Twenty-one of the tickets were written at Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house, 1522 W. Fredonia Ave., and the other 13 at the Sigma Chi fraternity house, 1408 W. Fredonia, according to Illinois State Police.

PJStar.com - Journal Star News

SMU - Alcohol violations stacking up at historic rates

Welcome to a new fall semester. A time of Football, turning leaves, and drunk students. Seems like everybody is doing it. Almost.

Six SMU students were rushed to the hospital for drug and alcohol-related overdoses one week into the fall term. That number, which was provided by a university student affairs official, is the highest in SMU history and accounts for more than half of the eleven hospitalizations to date.

Paralleling the rise in hospitalizations, the number of student citations in relation to previous years have drastically increased. Since classes began on Aug. 23, drug and alcohol-related citations have been issued by SMU police nearly four times as many as the 68 that were written in the same time period last year.

Citations at Greek houses, which have occurred in the past, are part of this rise. Twenty incidents have resulted in 88 individual citations according to SMU police records. At this point in 2006, only 33 individual citations had been issued at Greek houses.

The highest single incident so far this year involved 14 students being cited for underage drinking on Aug. 30 at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house.

Sigma Chi has the highest total number of individual citations with 26 from four different incidents. SAE and Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) each have 21 individual citations. Pi Kappa Alpha has nine individual citations from six different incidents, Kappa Sigma has six individual citations from one incident and Kappa Alpha has five individual citations from two incidents.

Phi Delta Theta, Lambda Chi Alpha and Sigma Phi Epsilon have no citations or incidents that originated from their houses.

Good for us. Either they are really toeing the line, or they are too clever to get caught.

Alcohol violations stacking up at historic rates - News

UNM Suspends Three of Six Fraternities

University of New Mexico frats suspended after allegations
Albuquerque Tribune
By Maggie Shepard

Three of the University of New Mexico's six fraternities have been placed on emergency suspension in the span of a week, meaning they can't participate in the annual rush week or other social activities.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon was suspended Aug. 14 after UNM police arrested a member on charges he had sex with several underage girls.

Phi Delta Theta was suspended on Aug. 17 after parents of a 16-year-old girl told university officials they found her passed out drunk at the fraternity house.

Kappa Sigma was suspended on Aug. 21 after an investigation into an early morning fight led UNM police to believe alcohol - which isn't allowed in any fraternity, sorority or student housing - was involved.

In response to the suspensions, which Dean of Student Affairs Randy Boeglin called an unprecedented number, the university is creating a Greek Life Task Force to examine how to more positively shape the future of fraternities and sororities on campus.

Boeglin said university President David Schmidly asked him to create the task force.

"First, we will deal with these incidents," Boeglin said. "And second, and more importantly, we will work to establish a new positive context for Greek life."

Boeglin said the week's incidents don't indicate the fraternity system on campus is out of control.

"I think this is a question not of chapters' holding the wrong types of events, (but of) individual chapter members' making very poor choices in terms of their decision-making, which chapters have to bear responsibility for," Boeglin said. "These look to be highly dubious decisions by individuals."

At least two individual fraternity members are being investigated by the university on code-of-conduct violation allegations.

Boeglin said that number could increase as investigations into the three incidents continue.

The fraternities will be scheduled for a hearing before a committee to decide if the emergency suspension should be lifted or kept in place.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon was suspended in 2005 after police were called to investigate another sexual misconduct allegation. The fraternity's emergency suspension was later lifted.

Boeglin said about 500 UNM students are registered with some sort of fraternity or sorority. Five fraternities and four sororities have houses on or off campus. Several other organizations operate as fraternities and sororities but do not have housing for members.

University of New Mexico frats suspended after allegations

The Year for Underage Drinking Arrests Everywhere

Police cite 74 in Ball State drinking sweep
By RICK YENCER
MUNCIE --

A back-to-school party at a Ball State University fraternity house Saturday night saw nearly two dozen people charged for underage drinking and furnishing alcohol to minors.

It was part of a larger effort by Indiana State Excise Police to crack down on underage drinking by citing 74 people on 88 charges in the university area over the weekend. Excise officers also posed as clerks at a nearby Muncie Liquors Store to nab underage drinkers and patrolled neighborhoods looking for parties and underage drinkers.

Ball State police responded to a complaint about noise and underage drinking at the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity house, 904 W. Riverside Ave., according to BSU Police Chief Gene Burton, and sought assistance from excise police who were conducting saturation patrols around campus.

Twenty-one minors were cited by police for consuming alcohol and an adult was arrested for furnishing alcohol to minors at the frat house.

"To my knowledge, we have never been to this fraternity house," Burton said. "Except for this incident, it was a pretty normal weekend for the start of school."

Excise police Sgt. Greg Wiese said only three people out of the 74 cited actually were incarcerated, a juvenile for possessing alcohol, and two adults, Chasity N. Hahn, 24, 2516 W. 11th St., preliminarily charged with public intoxication and false informing, and Sarah E. McHie, 20, 1101 W. Neely Ave., charged with public intoxication and minor possessing alcohol, according to jail records.

The rest were issued citations for charges ranging from possession of alcohol, minor in a package store, public intoxication, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of false identification.

Some enforcement action came with cooperation of Muncie Liquors Stores, which allowed excise officers to pose as clerks and customers and assist employees with checking identification. Three minors were cited for attempting to purchase alcohol at the Muncie Liquors store at Riverside and Wheeling avenues.

The excise effort was part of a statewide effort to stop underage drinking and alcohol sales.

Ball State took steps Monday to suspend the fraternity from any activity, pending an investigation, according to Lynda Wiley, assistant vice president of student affairs. That means fraternity members can meet, but not participate in any university or fraternity-sanctioned events.

Wiley only knew of a handful of citations through the university and did not know whether any fraternity members were cited.

'We have not received any specific information," she said.

It was the first time in recent years that a BSU fraternity has been the subject of an underage drinking raid, Wiley said.

Nathan Elsworth, president of Zeta Beta Tau, said he was unaware of any fraternity member being cited in the raid. Elsworth was at the party and said he had an idea that some partygoers were underage.

"We were just having a little party, and some way or another excise showed up and handed out tickets," he said. "I was willing to cooperate with them."

As many as 50 people attended the party at any one time, Elsworth said, and police arrived about 2 a.m. Sunday when the party ended, citing more than 20 people.

Fraternity members met on Sunday and decided to end any drinking at their frat house, said Elsworth, who noted the group faced not participating in rush or other activities.


-------------------------------------------------------
WTHR-TV Eyewitness NewsIndianapolis, INAugust 20, 2007
Ball State suspends Zeta Beta Tau's activities
Cat Anderson, Eyewitness News

Muncie - Back to school parties at Ball State University over the weekend led to 74 arrests. Now one of its fraternities is coming under fire for hosting a party where underage drinking was cited by State Excise Police.

Monday was the first day of class at Ball State, but some students have already learned a few lessons the hard way.

"We ended up calling an ambulance to take care of a person because of alcohol poisoning," said Gene Burton, director of BSU Campus Police.

It as just one of the eleven calls Campus Police received over the weekend that resulted in a citation. On top of that, State Excise Police arrested 60 minors on charges including public intoxication, possession of alcohol, marijuana and false identification.

"Historically it's a good time for us to set the tone and get the message out there to campuses year round, but it just seems there's a higher volume of arrests leading up to back to school because kids are coming from other states because they aren't familiar with our agency or what our mission is," said Jennifer Williams, Indiana State Excise Police.

The sweep also led to nine adult arrests on charges of furnishing alcohol to minors. Many of the arrests were made around 2:00 am on Sunday at the Zeta Beta Tau house.

"Once I seen so many cops going in and talking to everyone, I didn't know what to do because I've never seen anything like this before," said Chris Fitzjarrald, SAE fraternity member. "Everybody was looking out our windows wondering what was going on."

The fraternity's president, now in his fifth year at Ball State, immediately changed the house rules.

"As of right now there is no drinking in the house even if you are over 21 and we've asked our brothers not to go to any house parties or anything until we can take care of this on our own hopefully," said Nathan Elsworth, president of Zeta Beta Tau.

Ball State Students who were here in the spring of '04 remember when their Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha was nearly shut down after alleged alcohol violations. Members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the fraternity across the street, say they're disappointed.

"It hurts the entire Greek community. Even sororities will be hurt by this because this is the first week and this is when we get a lot of pledges that come over and want to rush so when they see that one fraternity that gets busted, that may go under. They might lose their chapter. That's one less fraternity on campus," said one Sigma Alpha Epsilon member.

BSU's Assistant Vice President of Student affairs says they just issued a letter to Zeta Beta Tau today, suspending all of their activities pending an investigation. At that point, they will decide if they need to take any further action.

Purdue Enforces Underage Drinking Violations

Five Purdue fraternities suspended for alcohol violations
By BRIAN WALLHEIMER and JOE LARSON
Journal and CourierGreater Lafayette, IN

Three more Purdue University fraternities have been suspended for alcohol violations, the day after Purdue suspended two others.

The Office of the Dean of Students reported that Kappa Delta Rho, Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Alpha Epsilon held functions this week in which minors were given or possessed alcohol. The groups also did not register their social functions with the Interfraternity Council, a requirement.

Delta Upsilon and Phi Kappa Psi were suspended earlier this week for the same violations.

The violations committed by at least two of the three most recent fraternities to face disciplinary action were brought to the attention of authorities by the Interfraternity Council's lower board. That board exists to help the organizations monitor themselves, according to Interfraternity Council President Steve Holtsclaw.

"I think that it is a positive sign that the Interfraternity Council and their lower board have not backed down," said Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of student activities at Purdue, about the most recent round of pending disciplinary action.

Last year, fraternities didn't have to register their functions with the lower board until classes started, Malavenda said.

The IFC was on the lookout this week for functions that violate Interfraternity Council rules forbidding events with alcohol during Boiler Gold Rush, the university's freshman orientation week.

"They are saying that the fraternity experience at Purdue University is more than just alcohol," said Kyle Pendleton, assistant dean of students at Purdue, about the lower board's actions.

University records show no violations for Kappa Delta Rho or Sigma Alpha Epsilon since 2001.

But Pi Kappa Alpha was disciplined twice in 2004. Once the fraternity received a written warning for alleged fighting and alcohol distribution and later that year was put on probation for allowing underage drinking at a catered event.

The fraternities are on suspension until their international offices do assessments and submit reports to the Office of the Dean of Students and the Interfraternity Council. Those two bodies can set sanctions such as mandatory workshops, probation, suspension or withdrawal of recognition.

While suspended, the fraternities must cease most chapter operations.

Holtsclaw said he didn't know if more disciplinary action against fraternities should be expected.

"I really hope it doesn't come to that, but at the same time we will keep going out and making sure that the rules are being followed," he said.

Mark Napier, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, declined to comment.