Florida Atlantic Investigating Alleged Hazing -- Sigma Phi Epsilon
 

The Associated Press is reporting:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/flor...y/1390338.html

A longer article is at:


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/pal...,1565994.story

This was on the news recently and it surprised me. I go to FAU and know a few SigEps and they all seem like nice guys, it'd be a shame to see their chapter shut down.

Update: Editorial in Local Newspaper about Alleged Hazing at FAU

Editorial in the Sun-Sentinel:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opi...,2404169.story

The middle of that article rubbed me the wrong way for some reason...

That entire article rubbed me the wrong way. Granted what (allegedly) happened is horrible but the way that was written smacks of yellow journalism and sensationalist hype. A major paper like that should know better.

Definately rub me the wrong way.

This was posted the next day. I respect this one.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/pal...,5057834.story

But I guess that's because the first one was an editorial and this is.. not? idk

The article said they have been on campus since 1996, isn't that in the era of the Balanced Man? If they have always been a BMP chapter where did they get the tradition of a "ritual kidnapping game?" Seems pretty contradictory to the whole BMP as well as the goal of it. I thought the response of many men's groups in the 90s of changing to new programming was in response to and to prevent hazing and RM issues, and that this isn't just a SigEp thing.

I'm not saying that a "traditional" chapter is more likely to haze, I'm just noticing that the chapters of SigEp that have more RM issues have not been BMP. I highly respect that SigEp HQ does not play around with RM issues though.

Yeah that is weird, I agree... I wouldn't think any young chapters would have RM issues due to hazing. But then again, I guess it depends on the campus climate and whatever chapter helped establish the FAU chapter. Just because a chapter is BM doesn't mean they follow it more than what pleases Nationals on paper.

The pledge model chapters are more likely to have RM issues related to hazing, though.

Idunno, the part about the ritual kidnapping game seems a bit off with the SigEps I know. I have a feeling that if there was a tradition of this I would've heard about it, given that the fraternities' shenanigans (or rumored shenanigans, in some cases) tend to make rounds pretty quickly. Maybe I'm wrong though, but it really would be a shame to see SigEp off campus. They're one of the biggest, if not necessarily most respected, groups on campus and losing them would be a major dent in an up-and-coming Greek scene.

Or I'm thinking that the SEC was founded as BMP and the alumni volunteers and advisors obviously came from "traditional" chapters as there were no BMP chapters so they may have brought in uhhh, rituals we perceive as hazing and RM that Renaissance brothers wouldn't think of doing. Sticking with SigEp as an example there was a chapter in outhern California that had an incident in the past year that involved alumni and fire, so it isn't out of the realm of possibility that alumni are involved in plating the seed or perpetuating it.

I do think there is some advantage to bringing in new alumni and alumnae initiates for colonies as they will only know the current HQ party line and follow what the organization as a whole wants, or in the case of a desirable school provide structure where there are no alumni or alumni who are unable or unwilling to be involved.

Oh and the article, the journalist's name was MISSY. I have never seen that as a government name, but as a nickname for Melissa.

Missy, I mean MOM! - Bill S. Preston Esq.

And there goes SigEp. Link here: http://www.upressonline.com/fraterni...year-1.2133903

Bit of a gravedig but there's been quite an uproar lately in the paper that makes me think this may not be put to bed anytime soon. Links here:

http://www.upressonline.com/sifting-...haze-1.2164285
http://www.upressonline.com/police-i...sues-1.2169942
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/ju...pikes.php#more

This is going to be a long semester for FAU's Greek system.

Soo... now bitter SigEps want to tear down the rest of the campus because they fucked up?

Cool.

The part about FAU's greek adviser being pres. of his chapter when a near-death hazing incident and then continuing as president after the incident and then still going on to be a greek adviser was surprising.

Also, gotta' love those SigEps for throwing out names of other groups as if they were members. If they didn't see it happen, why are they running their mouths? And even if it DID, calling others out (unless formally) isn't going to make theirr fraternity come back on campus any sooner. The Pres. from the Kappa Alpha Psi chapter seemed so upset, but I do think there is merit to what he says. I don't think they'd get such a minimal suspesion. One year is not long enough, especially when some of these SigEp members don't appear to have discretion of the mouth or mind. I hope the membership review is done very carefully.

I would be surprised if the administration, given recent events, didn't take those claims (as unsubstantiated as they may be) and launch investigations with them. That article combined with the paper stealing crap (which I HOPE TO GOD wasn't anyone Greek's doing) is going to provoke something draconian yet.

rant/

Because some/many/most non Greeks may not understand the difference between a chapter's "traditions" and an inter/national fraternity rituals, and unless the author knows it is truly part of the ritual of an inter/national fraternity, I wish reporters would write something more accurate when reporting these types of incidents.

For example, regarding the bolded above. Perhaps say "... his fraternity *chapter* practiced a hazing *tradition* where he was...". Or even "... his fraternity practiced a *chapter* hazing ritual where he was..."

/rant

Preston327: I would be surprised if the administration, given recent events, didn't take those claims (as unsubstantiated as they may be) and launch investigations with them.

This would definitely give the administration some food for thought. There is way too much information being stated about hazing & chapter rituals!!!!!:eek:


TSteven:
The incident sent ... brother, to the Boca Raton Community Hospital emergency room after his fraternity practiced a hazing ritual where he was kidnapped and forced to drink large amounts of alcohol.

Because some/many/most non Greeks may not understand the difference between a chapter's "traditions" and an inter/national fraternity rituals, and unless the author knows it is truly part of the ritual of an inter/national fraternity, I wish reporters would write something more accurate when reporting these types of incidents.

For example, regarding the bolded above. Perhaps say "... his fraternity *chapter* practiced a hazing *tradition* where he was...". Or even "... his fraternity practiced a *chapter* hazing ritual where he was..."

TSteven, I like your above example!!!! I could not have agreed with you more!!!!!:)

ZBT:"Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present & Impacting the Future."

Heee Hee Hee! And there is someone posting in this thread named Preston!

Dude, that article is ridiculous. It's like, hey, are you a sigep and wanna toss the shit around about other groups? Well come on in!!! It's absolutely insane that any reputable news outlet would publish a bunch of hearsay and horseshit.