SAE gone form UNT!
 

This just shows how easy it is for a great chapter can go down.
Sorry the article is a little long.

October 17, 2003

UNT and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Inc. suspend campus chapter for 4 years for hazing policy violations


DENTON (UNT), Texas — Today, the University of North Texas, acting in conjunction with Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Inc., suspended the campus chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon from all operations at UNT for four years (until July 2007).

The UNT Division of Student Development and the fraternity's national headquarters imposed the suspension in response to investigations of several allegations of hazing, alcohol and physical abuse violations this semester that culminated in an off campus incident on Oct. 12 (Sunday). At that time a freshman pledge to the fraternity was found unconscious on Oak Street and transported to Denton Community Hospital.

The national fraternity additionally suspended the affiliations of all current members of the UNT chapter for four years.

The UNT Police Department is also investigating the Oct. 12 incident.

"We acted quickly to suspend the fraternity's operations because UNT does not tolerate hazing and on account of the seriousness of this case," said Bonita Jacobs, vice president for Student Development.

Acting with full cooperation from the fraternity's national headquarters, UNT has determined that campus chapter members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon violated sections of the UNT Code of Student Conduct that address hazing, alcohol abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse and other conduct that threatens or endangers health or safety; violation of university policy; and violation of federal, state, civil or criminal laws — regardless of whether individuals are ultimately convicted.

During the next four years, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter will not be allowed to solicit or accept new members, participate in service projects or hold local meetings. Current members of the UNT chapter must vacate the fraternity house during the next 30 days.

After an incident-free suspension, the fraternity will be eligible to petition UNT for permission to return to active status under a two-year probationary period. Any failure to follow all guidelines set by the university or other violations of UNT policies or procedures will result in an immediate re-suspension of the chapter.

Details of the incident are not available until the police investigation is complete.

UNT cited Sigma Alpha Epsilon for the following violations of the Code of Student Conduct:

SECTION B2

Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion; and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person. Speech protected by the First Amendment is not a violation of this provision, although fighting words and statements which reasonably threaten or endanger the health and safety of any person are not protected speech. Each allegation of a violation under this provision shall be reviewed in consideration of these factors.

SECTION B4

Hazing as defined by Section 51.936 and 37.151-157, Texas Education Code, such as engaging in, soliciting, encouraging, directing, aiding or intentionally knowingly or recklessly permitting behavior such as physical brutality, risk of harm to mental or physical health or safety, intimidation, threat of ostracism, mental stress, humiliation, or other behavior adverse to health or human dignity to occur in association with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in a student organization or having firsthand knowledge of the planning of hazing or of its occurrence and failing to report it to school authorities.

SECTION B7

Use, possession or distribution of alcoholic beverages (unless expressly permitted by law and university regulations) or public intoxication.

SECTION B10

Violation of university policies or regulations which have been published and are readily available to the students, including but not limited to those which govern academic matters, housing, alcohol use, financial matters, student life, and the maintenance of the health, safety, and welfare of the university community.

SECTION B11

An act which constitutes a violation of federal, state, civil or criminal laws or city ordinances, regardless of whether the act occurred on or off campus and regardless of whether the individual is ultimately convicted of the act.


UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Roddy Wolper (940) 565-2943
Email: rwolper@unt.edu

Possible Details...
 

I have it on very good authority (the highest authority at SAE's Fraternity Service Center) that this chapter was closed because they forced 18 pledges to drink a keg of beer in an hour and the person mentioned being found on Oak street in the article was found in a dumpster. There was also something said about making them do really inappropriate things that are not even worth mentioning.

I could be wrong... but I doubt that it is not far from the truth given the credibility of who I directly heard it from. Not trying to dog the chapter, just providing more info instead of reading 30 threads about 'does anybody know what happened, if so post here...'

Let it be a lesson to others: is the worst possible outcome worth the risk?

Re: Possible Details...
 

Thank you for the post. The answer to your question is clearly "NO!" I continue to be surprized that chapters continue to haze. Sooner or later they're likely to get caught.

This thread should probably be in Risk Management, too.

:(

Re: Re: Possible Details...
 

Some chapters feel it's necessary to do it to draw that particular class together...however, it probably isnt right..and another however, it will ALWAYS happen..

UNT's a great campus. I'm very surprised they were doing this up there. I've visited the Sigma Nu chapter up there on a few occasions. It's a great campus where a chapter has every opportunity to thrive. Why SAE (usually a great organization) did not do this here is beyond me.

Lesson to be learned: Hazing may have certain short-term benefits. But is it worth the eventual closing of your chapter when it's found out?

As a greek at UNT...I can say that I was deeply upset with what happened to the SAEs on this campus.They were an awesome group of guys who demonstrated brotherhood at its finest.

This has been a huge issue at UNT, with the media getting very much involved. There were articles in the school newspaper, which is very anti-greek, and they even posted the article on the University of North Texas webpage, and its the first thing you spot when you open up the page. The IFC president was an SAE and had to step down at Monday's meeting(he came to panhellenic meeting as well) and it was a very emotional time.

I can also say that there are a ton of rumors flying around on what actually happened.

Its also very sad for the pledges, because after learning about this great fraternity and brotherhood, they will not have the chance to be initiated while being an undergrad, as SAE will not have a chance to come back onto campus until 2007.

If they were actually committing this type of hazing, that's no excuse. The pledges were just as guilty for allowing it to get out of control without contacting the proper authorities.

Something like this is very difficult for the newspaper to just have "made up". SAE would not yank a charter if this was false (I hope). Why anyone would call this a strong brotherhood and an excellent organization when such obvious flaws and illegal practices exist within the organization is purely beyond me.

What looks great from the outside is not always perfect from within.

I never said the newspaper made it up. I was trying to say that I think its inappropriate for the school to put it on the webpage and the first thing you see is that. The newspaper jumps on anything that makes greeks look bad(our school newspaper, the NT Daily), and never sheds any positive articles. I have a friend on the staff who says they are anti-greek. Everywhere I go, i have rabdom people coming up to me and asking me what happened, just because of the letters I wear. And when I talked about a great brotherhood, I was talking about before this incident came up. Im friends with alot of the SAEs and they have a very strong unity. Im not saying what they did was right, for it was VERY wrong what happened. No one can ever know what goes on on the inside, except for the SAEs.

However, it is ALWAYS sad to see a chapter close, especially when we used to have 13 fraternities on this campus, and are now down to 7.

I definately agree with Txsurfinwaves. I was very shocked and upset about what happened, and like Txsurfinwaves mentioned, the incident is just making the school more anti-greek than it already is. The SAE's were a great group of guys.

This is definitely a big issue on campus...especially last week... while everyone was putting the finishing touches on their homecoming floats we had reporters from nearby television stations come by that wanted to talk to greeks on Greek Row about the incident.

I do trust that UNT and SAE's National Headquarters have done what is best for the greek system and for their chapter. I hope things work out and the SAE's can petition to return to active status in 2007.

Thanks, TX*princess....i totally agree with what your saying too.

It was very hard with HC that week, and groundbreaking for our new sorority row..and having them not ask about the new houses at groundbreaking, but asking us how we felt about what happened with the SAEs and what we know about what went on.

I agree txsurfinwaves :)

And it really is true about how the NTDaily portrays ALL greeks no matter whether we've done something bad or not. There was one article earlier this semester in which the writer *tried* to show the positive things that Greeks do, but that only lasted about 2 sentences... then it went right back into all the bad sterotypes and all that jazz.

On a school that is anti-greek (not so much the administration, but a lot of the Independents), I think it is important for all the GLOs to be there for each other. :) What happened with SAE wasn't right, so all we can do is trust that the right decisions were made regarding the punishment and hope that they can return in 2007.

I definitely agree! That was definitely disturbing.

UNT GREEKS UNITE!

We really do have an awesome greek system here, with the support of the faculty...but when it comes to the independents, they are VERY anti-greek. We were recieving our philosophy tests back today in class- and i got a 95...so excited that i screamed YESSS!!!...and i heard these guys crack up and this girl say...uh oh, sorority girl actually passed! ( i was wearing a pi phi shirt)

I agree, again, with you texas*princess, and I hope that SAE can return in 2007. I think the right decisions were made, and I hope this is a wake-up call to GLO's around the nation...that even strong chapters can get kicked off.

Yea.... I think any UNT greek can relate to that... I heard all kinds of anti-greek stuff during Yell Like Hell last Friday.

hahaha....but since this has become a convo between me and you, lets put it back on topic.

TAKEN FROM THE UNT SAE Webpage

Rest in Peace
Texas Kappa (March 5, 1988 - October 16, 2003)
Prepare to rise, once again, from the ashes stronger than ever!
Phi Alpha!

hehehe

ok...no more thread hi-jacking from me ;)

What?!! :eek:

This is a tragedy. Back in the early 90's their were around 20 groups. And new groups forming. (My memory is fading, but I thought there were 7 sororities & 23 fraternities in 1990.)

I think the bad press has really hurt greek life overall up there. I think the fraternities that have put themselves in these situations have not only hurt themselves, but the entire greek system at UNT.

I keep hearing how UNT is so anti-greek. But I was GDI there for three years and don't remember this being the case. They have a diverse campus, with students having lots of other interests. But I don't remember a lot of greek-hate circulating. But when you are losing GLO's all the time to stupid reasons like this, it doesn't surprise me that the current climate is more hostile.

This is a good lesson to other campuses on how it is so very easy for the greek system to lose its momentum and slide downhill.

I know the feeling, we in NW PA have lost 3 fraternities and like 4 Sororities since our last president came here. He is very Anti Greek. It is sad when people who did not make it through their pledge process in college pay back the whole greek system when they get a little power.

I thought I heard that we were trying to get an SAE here. Dont know though it was just floating around.

I know we are working on getting another fraternity here, after Phi Kappa Theta got knocked off.

I never thought UNT was anti-greek - TWU, that was an anti-greek campus.

While I was up there, the fraternities were being put on social probation one after the other - I remember we couldn't mix with our brother fraternity Lambda Chi because they were always in trouble. I hadn't heard about the SAE's, but mainly because they didn't really do stuff with us.

This is really sad though :( Didn't they just move to a new house a few years ago?

Meremere. as I understand LXA is back on campus and gained a lot of New Associate Members! It is a shame that the Administration is anti Greek! I have only one thing to say, They Are Friggin Morons in the long hall of the total picture!


Greeks can and will be a plus on any Campus!

UNT GREEKS UNITE???
 

It is very hard for the Greeks to unite at UNT.

I have been apart of the Greek system since Fall 1999 and have seen all the fraternities get kicked off or disband. The fraternity system at UNT is a very traditional system. My own fraternity like SAE used to practiced many pledge activities and put our selves in bad positions. As a chapter we find that the hazing system did not work, and quickly changed our focus to what is important in our fraternity - Brotherhood, Grades, Service Projects, and Having Fun - and completely stopped hazing our new members. We are a better chapter for doing so.

I think UNT does not have a big Greek system because the school does not allow the Greeks to be a major part of Freshmen Orientation like it is in most schools that have big Greek systems. Also too, not all of the Fraternities at UNT like each other, so it will be hard for us to unite. I do think, if we as a Greek system could come together and support one another then we will see our Fraternities average 100+ men and our Sororities average 125+ women. Plus we will see many new GLOs come into the system.

This is just my 2 cents.

I wasnt talking about the fraternities uniting, i was talking about the sororities. We have an awesome NPC community, and with the new sorority row, i think it will be even better. I know texas*princess will agree with me on this one.

The fraternities here have major competition, and are always bashing on the other.

However, we are always agreeing on how different fraternities and sororities are.

Maybe UNT used to not be so anti-greek, but with the NT Daily always printing negative articles with maybe a line of positive at the very end- its hard for GDI's to see us in a great light. I know the reporters tried to get our Greek Advisor to say negative things about Greeks, and kept badgering her with questions even though we hadn't done anything. In the article they were trying to quote her on, they didnt even mention it because all she said was positive things.

At our sorority ground-breaking, all the reporters did was ask us about SAE....not about how we felt about getting this awesome new complex to unite the sororities.

Yes, Tom, LXA is back on campus...and are stronger than ever! They have a great fraternity up here since coming back on campus.

Y'all are getting a sorority row? how awesome. I knew ADPi had a house, is that still the only one?

I'm happy that the LXA's are back and doing well :)

Yes...ADPi is the only one that has a house. Thats what texas*princess is :D

However, they are selling the house(i think?) and the other sororites, except Chi-O, sold their land and are building a "sorority complex".

The sororities at UNT are Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Phi, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Chi Omega.

Our row will be really close to fraternity row, so we are slowly taking over campus. hahaha.

The funny thing is, here in denton there was a law or something that said that if there were 5 girls or more in a house, it was considered a whore house. I guess they changed the law, or gave us an exception like they did with ADPi...so we get our sorority row.

yeah that stupid law was the reason we didn't have houses at TWU. We had dorm floors instead - it was fun, but at the same time, we all wanted our own house!

I bet all the T dub sororities are oh so jealous right now :D

Re: UNT GREEKS UNITE???
 

Mike, I hear you here.

Fraternities at UNT have *every* opportunity to succeed. I'm well aquainted with your Sigma Nu chapter there and they are very successful and don't haze. How is that done?

National programming.

Their chapter has won several national awards for the way in which they have implemented our national programming.

I know from them that fraternities at UNT have every opportunity to succeed. They school is large enough that it can support a lot of successful chapters. Why groups like SAE didn't capitalize on this in the right way is beyond me.

Congratulations to ya'll for seeing the light!

I agree that a stronger system can be attained through greek unity. It's tough though. You must be able to work as a group to acheive the greater good while looking for individual success. The balance is a difficult one to find. Through lots of work and a strong IFC, this can be attained.

I was told North Texas was on of our best Texas chapters by a Delta Sig "classless clown" (Tech). So.......this is kind of a shock to know they're anti-greek and have a smaller greek system than I thought.

The Delta Sigs here at UNT are really cool guys- have a strong brotherhood and are fine upstanding gentleman. Im going with one of them to Pi Phi formal- the first night i met this guy, he told me the first rule they were taught was that they had to treat sorority girls with the utmost respect. Delta Sig has won the gentlemans award the past couple of years, as has Sigma Nu. Thats probably why they are rivals...they are probably the two strongest chapters, since SAE is no more.

Txsurfinwaves -
What is your take on the other Fraternities at UNT?
As a Sorority woman at UNT what would be good ways for both Fraternities and Sororities at UNT to Unite?

So much to reply to! hehehe

Yes I agree that the UNT sororities definitely uphold the true Panhellenic spirit! We are always there for each other to support one another and I am so proud and happy to be part of it :)

The house that ADPi currently resides in is leased from Kappa Alpha since they are no longer on our campus. I believe ADPi moved into the house in Spring 2002? We are all very excited at the opportunity to build with the other sororities so the new complex can strengthen our Panhellenic ties even more. I'm not sure what is going to happen to this house after we move into the Sorority Row.... there has been talks that another fraternity might move in, but all that is still up in the air.

And once again I can agree with txsurfinwaves that the Delta Sigs on this campus are true gentlemen :)

I can honestly say that i havent gotten the chance to know any SigEps on the campus..

We did HC with Sigma Nu, i coached the Sigma Chi's for Mr. Pi Phi, love the lambda chis( met them on bid day), i worked with a kappa sig this summer, im going to formal with a delta sig, and i loved the SAEs. Phi Kappa Sigma..i have one in my philosophy class, and he seems nice. All the fraternities here on campus seem like great guys, with such a strong bond, and one that they would do anything for each other.

I think, though, that the competition is very high here. The fraternities are constantly fighting and have these HUGE rivalaries...but ive really only seen Delta Sig's and Sigma Nus...since we did HC with Sigma Nu and they thought Delta Sig had messed with their rock.

To unite the sororites and the fraternities....i think we have a good base so far...we just need to build on it. I think that Troy is really trying to get the greek system to unite together as a whole, and I think it is slowly but surely coming together.

texas*princess, help a panhellenic sister out! Im watching the bachelor, and its distracting me!

hehehe.. we just finished watching The Bachelor :p

As far as all greek unity, I agree that we have a working base so far, but it's true that the fraternities do have rivalries going on. I think generally we have great groups here on campus, they just need to learn to support one another and forget silly differences. :)

Do y'all have exchanges between Fraternities and Sororities at your campus? At LSU, Thursday night is the typical exchange night. Fraternities and Sorority pair up & get together from 8 - 11 pm, either at the Fraternity house or at a local establishment. There usually is a theme. You don't bring dates (you are each others date). This is a great way for sororities and fraternities to get to know each other and form unity within the Greek community. In the early 90's, block parties were also held. At these, several sororities and several fraternities had one group exchange. Haven't heard of this happening in recent years, though.

I can't say that I know the campus at all, but perhaps this incident could be the incident that leads the Greeks to unite. It sounds like a Greek system in crisis and someone needs to take the lead to say "Hey, let's start meeting and figure out what we can do to be stronger as a whole". At my alma mater, they have a President's Club in addition to IFC and Panhellenic Council where they would discuss general issues that were affecting the Greek system on campus. Remind everybody that "No matter the letter, we're all Greek together" and if you don't unite, the chapters may continue to fall.

Dee

Something else that LSU does to help unite the Greek Community is monthly advisors meetings. The Chapter Advisors, Faculty Advisors, and House Corporation Officers meet once a month (taking place at the greek houses on campus) to discuss issues that going on in the greek community. This has helped the chapters know what is going on with each other and to provide assistance to each other.

Also, several years ago, (after the highly publicized drinking death of one of its Greek members) the university implemented a Greek Assessment that each GLO has to participate in. Each GLO is "graded" on various areas such as Scholastics, Community Service, New Membership, Continuing Member Education, Health & Wellness, Hazing Prevention, Leadership Training, Transition-to-Post-Graduate-Life, Substance Free Events, and Multi-cultural Activities. If an organization doesn't do well, they go through a probationary period where they can improve on the areas in which they are weak. If they do well, they are recognized as such. Since the assessment process began, there has been a change in the overall Greek Community image. Granted the change, so far, is slight; however, I think that the Greek System at LSU will be better for it. It really makes the members of each chapter look at themselves, see what needs to be changed and take the necessary steps to improve.

I get uncomfortable with the University doing the "grading" of GLOs because I feel that is up to our Inter/National organizations to do.

I do like the idea of the advisor meetings though!

Dee

When the assessment process began, we were all very uncomfortable. However, it turned out not to be so bad. The assessment team is comprised of about 5 people from the university, both greek and non-greek. They are there to help the chapters improve.

its not that we dont have unity...we do!! at least the sororities do. My best friend is a Zeta, and i have tons of friends in Kappa and Chi-Omega. I live with an Alpha Phi at the moment.

The frats are just really competitive.....and its not just one fraternity, its all of them. All the sororities have their certain fraternities they like....but we get along with all of them. I cant really say that the fraternities should follow after us, because we are way different. I think guys are just competitive by nature, and while it can be friendly competition at times,but it also gets really out of hand at other times.

The Phi Kapps were nice guys, and I agree with whomever said the Delta Sigs were gentlemen. I'm going to go out on a limb and say I wasn't impressed with the Sig Eps the few times we mixed with them. My opinion though. The Sigma Nu's were always fun.....like I said before, SAE's didn't really do stuff with us.

Hey this is off topic, but texas*princess and txsurfinwaves - what do the UNT sororities think about the TWU sororities? I always got the feeling that y'all didn't like us too much :confused: