There is a very good article about this in an education supplement to today's Sunday New York Times. Others may disagree but I think it is a good impartial piece. Interestingly, the writer divulges that his own son is an SAE from another chapter and had a good experience. Shocking is the number of SAE chapters that have had violations per the National office. Also encouraging is that the president of Cornell insists that fraternities and sororities can and should be a positive part of Cornell.

Trial -- or the preliminaries to the actual trial -- is set to begin Monday, May 21, according to

http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...text|FRONTPAGE

Update:

Three "pledges" reportedly have been acquitted. Also, it looks like a civil case is being pursued. See

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...icle-1.1103415

Good.

That's quite simplistic thinking (as is the NY Times article).

1. SAE is one of the larger national fraternities. There may be smaller national fraternities out there who have a much larger percentage of chapters who have had the same issues.

2. Because of the above, SAE is much more likely to get sued than, say, KDR, simply for the fact that their pockets are deeper. You can't get blood from a turnip.

3. The list of chapter "violations" includes things such as drinking on bid night and a noise violation. It is NOT a list of only hazing violations. Many of the entries on the list only cite "violation of university rules" which could be something as mild as failing to file their RSO paperwork.

4. The NY Times article doesn't differentiate between real hazing and "PC" hazing. Beating the crap out of someone does not = asking them to answer the house phone.

The chapter (which has been disbanded) was found guilty, according to reports. A smallish fine was apparently imposed. See, for example, the following on an ABC site:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/f...5#.T-zlzsjNnpM

^^^ I slightly changed my tune when I read that the chapter had admonished the pledges for not doing kidnappings. That was a dumb move on their part.

As bad as this whole thing is, it gives better insight into the wrong mentalities that exists among some of the fraternities at Cornell. The administration and school IFC has tried to do stuff recently (no alcohol at rush, "dry" pledging period, etc.), but whether or not their efforts are effective has yet to be seen. I'm looking forward to what will happen next semester.

SAE fined $12,000

http://centralny.ynn.com/content/top...-hazing-death/

“Sigma Alpha Epsilon is forced to pay the maximum of $12,000 in fines for unlawfully dealing with a child, hazing, and criminal nuisance. The fraternity was convicted on those charges for the February 2011 death of George Desdunes, 19. . . . “