Daily Aztec
San Diego State University
September 14, 2009
http://www.thedailyaztec.com/city/drugs-found-in-fraternity-1.1875684

Drugs found in fraternity

By Kristina Blake, Senior Staff Writer

Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity has been expelled from San Diego State.

In agreement with SDSU President Stephen L. Weber, SDSU Vice President for Student Affairs, James R. Kitchen, decided to expel the chapter from the campus community following a Chapter Review Panel hearing conducted by Student Affairs on Aug. 20. …

A Cornell University student died Friday at Cayuga Medical Center from complications relating to H1N1 influenza, according to the Ithaca, N.Y., university.

Warren Schor, a 20-year-old junior, is the first H1N1 influenza-related fatality in Tompkins County, the Health Department said….

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,549565,00.html

Courtland Smith, a junior biology major from Texas and president of the UNC chapter of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, was shot to death by police early Sunday morning….

He was shot by police in Archdale, about 15 miles south of Greensboro, during a confrontation with an officer.

A news release from the Archdale Police Department states a Caucasian male in his early 20s was shot during a confrontation with police early Sunday morning on Interstate 85.

According to the news release, police stopped the individual’s car after he called officers to say he needed help and was suicidal…..

http://www.dailytarheel.com/content/dke-president-shot-death
http://www.dailytarheel.com/content/officer-named-smith-shooting

Excerpted from onlineathens.com

An insurance underwriter has sued the Sigma Chi fraternity chapter at the University of Georgia in federal court, saying the underwriter should not have to defend the fraternity against a Gainesville woman’s injury lawsuit.

The Liberty Capital Corp., an underwriter of the Sigma Chi insurance policy at Lloyd’s of London, also says the company should not have to pay damages if she wins a separate lawsuit against the UGA fraternity.

The woman is seeking damages from the fraternity in a suit filed three months ago in Clarke Superior Court over injuries she suffered at a party at the frat house last September. The Banner-Herald is withholding her name because UGA police investigated the case as a possible rape, though no charges were filed.

for more – http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/072409/uga_468867885.shtml

From abc4.com

LOGAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) – The Utah State University student who admitted giving the alcohol to Michael Starks is going to jail.

Starks was found dead of alcohol poisoning after an initiation ritual into the sigma nu fraternity with their sister sorority chi omega.

Whitney Miller admitted to supplying the alcohol for the ritual. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the hazing charge against her.

Monday in court, a judge sentenced her to miller to 30 days in jail, three years of probation and 2-hundred hours of community service where she will have to talk to high school students about the dangers of alcohol.

This week, Sigma Phi Epsilon Headquarters learned about an incident that occurred in March and resulted in the injury of one SigEp member of our California State Polytechnic University-Pomona chapter. In response, our chapter at Cal Poly-Pomona has been suspended until all fraternity and university investigations are complete. At that time, an appropriate and full reaction and remedy will be made.

Initial findings show that a SigEp member at Cal Poly-Pomona was injured during a routine outdoor ceremony when gasoline was thrown on a fire, which is not a part of that or any ceremony of the Fraternity.

The safety of all our members is of the utmost importance, and this matter is being given the full attention of staff and volunteers in order to assist our injured member, deal with anyone responsible and prevent future problems. The specific incident and associated factors will be reviewed and addressed.

This is an unfortunate situation for everyone involved, first and foremost the injured member. His health and well-being are our priority. This is also an unusual and disappointing situation for the Cal Poly-Pomona chapter, a campus leader with the highest GPA among fraternities and a commitment to community service.

http://www.sigep.org/news/release.asp?release=230

From courthousenews.com

LAS VEGAS (CN) – A man claims his daughter’s sorority ruined his prized Corvette – one of only 17 1969 Corvette L-88 Automatic Roadsters ever made. Jeffrey Hendershot says the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority at the University of Nevada Las Vegas dented, scratched and spilled paint on the ‘Vette while building a homecoming float, then refused to pay the $33,000 repair bill.

Hendershot says he bought the car in 1987 and restored it to its original factory condition, making it “highly collectible” and worth $300,000 to $500,000. He says the car was featured in the Bloomington Gold “Special Collection” Corvette Car Show, where it was recognized as “rare, unusual and historic.”

In October 2006, Hendershot says, his wife allowed their daughter and her Alpha Gamma Delta sorority sisters to build a homecoming float at their house, where the car was stored in the garage under a canvas tarp.

During three weeks of construction, Hendershot says, sorority members stacked piles of wood and building materials on the hood, causing “noticeable scratches and dents,” and spilled paint on exposed parts, including the wheels and rims.

Hendershot says he had to have the car taken to a Southern California body shop that specializes in restoring collectors’ cars. He says the car had to be repainted with a special type of paint, disassembled and put back together, costing $33,101.81.

He says the sorority agreed in December 2006 to pay for the damages, but he hasn’t seen any money.

Along with the $33,000 in damages to the car, Hendershot seeks $3,500 in attorney’s fees and other related costs.

He is represented by Mark Borghese with Weide Miller.

Excerpted from the LA Times -

The school is investigating claims that a student was severely burned during a Sigma Phi Epsilon initiation at a bonfire in the high desert.

A campus fraternity in Pomona has been suspended while the school investigates claims that a student was burned during an initiation.

Cal Poly Pomona announced Wednesday that it suspended the local chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon and nine fraternity members.

College spokesman Tim Lynch said the school is investigating an alleged initiation in which 14 students were blindfolded, driven to the high desert in March and placed around a bonfire.

He said the blindfolds were removed and gasoline was splashed on the fire for dramatic effect but some got on a student, who suffered second-degree burns to his arms, legs and chest.

Excepted from KTLA-TV, Los Angeles

POMONA — A fraternity at Cal Poly Pomona, along with nine of its members, have been suspended after a student was burned during an initiation ceremony.

“These allegations are serious,” said Doug Freer, the school’s vice president for student affairs. “If found to be true, this incident put student lives at risk and reflects incredibly poor judgment by the student and alumni members of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Our university policy on hazing is clear: zero tolerance.”

The fraternity’s campus accounts have been frozen, and it will not be permitted to use university facilities, said Tim Lynch, the school’s senior media communications coordinator. The suspensions are pending completion of criminal and disciplinary investigations, Lynch said.

Investigators say 14 students were blindfolded and driven to an undisclosed location in the high desert on March 6 for a fraternity initiation ceremony attended by more than 130 fraternity members and alumni.

The blindfolded students were positioned around a large bonfire, and as their blindfolds were removed, gasoline was doused onto the fire for “dramatic effect,” Lynch said.

However, some gasoline splashed onto one student, who suffered second-degree burns to his arms, legs and chest, Lynch said. The victim, who university officials said requested anonymity, has since withdrawn from school, Lynch said.

University officials were notified about the alleged hazing May 28, Lynch said.

Among the issues under investigation are allegations that the victim “was not provided appropriate and timely medical attention when it was requested,” and that alcohol was provided to students younger than 21, including the victim, Lynch said.

The student was at a fraternity party held in Gatlinburg, Tenn., Friday night.

University officials said he suffered only minor injuries and could be released from the hospital Tuesday.

“The student has a broken arm, bumps and bruises. He was taken to the hospital. He is still in the hospital and he’s hoping to get out sometimes in the next 24 hours,” said university spokesman Mark Hebert.

Andrew Davies, a Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity freshman, was at a fraternity party at the Mount Shadows Resort in Gatlinburg.

“It was Tau Kappa Epsilon, they were there for some sort of frat function unrelated to the University of Louisville,” said Hebert.

Davies is British student studying to become an engineer at UofL’s Speed School.

Once he’s released from the hospital, Davies is expected to return to Louisville in time for the summer semester.

According to the University, four other UofL students at the party were arrested for public intoxication

They’ve been released, but their names have not been released.

“As for the student who fell off of the balcony, he has not been charged with anything, we’re just glad he’s okay,” said Hebert.

UofL and the fraternity’s national office will investigate the incident to find out if there were any violations of the university’s code of conduct.

Well I was wrong, it was quicker than before lunch time cause the very next story i read was Officials examine frats’ ties to death

Two UCI fraternities possibly linked to the death of a university student have been banned from hosting events until school officials complete an investigation into their potential responsibility, officials said Monday.

The two stories conflict and one says he was heading TO the party and the other heading FROM the party. In either case the bottom line is this, a student, a Greek one to boot, who happened to be going to / coming from a fraternity event did something stupid and ran across a highway. I’m sure the Brothers are reeling from the death of a member but to add insult to injury they are banned from events and I’m sure more sanctions will come.  (a moot point since I’m sure they are probably not planning to have another event anytime soon beyond memorials for their stuck down Brother)

When you are Greek your actions reflect your entire organization and when people come looking to sue they will follow the money. If they can sue the chapter, the national, the catering hall, the college, the parents of the other students and the 2nd grade teachers of everyone involved, they will.  Out is the age of personal responsibility and in with the age of blame everyone around you. That being said, give some thought about how your actions while wearing (or not wearing letters) will impact your chapter, your family and friends.

To the brothers of Sigma Pi and Alpha Epsilon Pi at UC Irvine or heart felt condolences during what will prove to be a very troubling time for you all and sorry for your loss.