Chapter loses Charter
 

NEWS RELEASE
KAPPA SIGMA FRATERNITY
March 28, 2002

Mitchell B. Wilson
Executive Director
Kappa Sigma Fraternity
PO Box 5066
Charlottesville, VA 22905
434/295-3193

Charlottesville, Virginia - The Supreme Executive Committee of Kappa
Sigma Fraternity revoked the charter of the Epsilon-Iota Chapter at
San Diego State University on March 23, 2002 at the committee's
quarterly meeting in Macon, Georgia. The Fraternity's board took the
action to revoke the charter after it had been determined that the
chapter violated the Hazing Policy of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. The
violation of the Hazing Policy was the second violation within a
five-year period.

According to Executive Director Mitchell B. Wilson, the Fraternity
has taken a very strong position to eliminate all forms of hazing.
Kappa Sigma is actively engaged in educating chapters on the subject
of hazing and is also enforcing the policy by disciplining those
chapters which fail to eliminate hazing from their operations.

"Kappa Sigma Fraternity is a Fraternity that is 100% committed to a
hazing-free environment. We have spent thousands of dollars in our
resources educating chapters and undergraduate leaders on the subject
of hazing and how it conflicts with the values of our Fraternity,"
Wilson said. The Kappa Sigma Fraternity will plan to return to San
Diego State University after an absence of a minimum, of two years.
The Fraternity was founded on the San Diego State University campus
on December 9, 1947.

Kappa Sigma Fraternity is represented on 209 college and university
campuses throughout North America and has initiated over 213,000 men.
The Fraternity was founded on December 10, 1869 at the University of
Virginia.

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NEWS RELEASE
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Office of Marketing and Communications

KAPPA SIGMA FRATERNITY EXPELLED FOR HAZING

CONTACT: Jack Beresford, (619) 594-2448, jack.beresford@sdsu.edu

Consistent with SDSU and national fraternity policies, Kappa Sigma
Fraternity's SDSU Chapter has had its charter revoked and the
fraternity has been expelled from campus.

"The university has made clear to the Greek community that hazing
incidents involving alcohol will be met with penalties consistent
with our zero-tolerance policy," said SDSU President Stephen L.
Weber. "San Diego State applauds Kappa Sigma's national organization
for its decisive action and cooperation on this matter."

The action by SDSU and Kappa Sigma follows a Jan. 16 incident during
which university police found several underage Kappa Sigma pledges
and at least one executive officer of the fraternity in a university
parking garage with large amounts of alcohol intended for a
pre-initiation party. The incident was Kappa Sigma's second hazing
incident in the past five years.

The earliest Kappa Sigma could be considered by the university for
recognition and re-colonization is the 2005-06 academic year.

In addition to the fraternity's expulsion, individual students
involved have been referred to SDSU's Center for Student Rights and
Responsibilities for possible disciplinary action. Those found in
violation of the California code of regulations governing student
behavior may be expelled, suspended or placed on probation. It is
university policy that the names of students involved in judicial
procedures are not made public.

Similar to many of SDSU's Greek-letter fraternities, Kappa Sigma has
operated a local chapter on the SDSU campus since 1947 under the
direction of its national fraternity. Kappa Sigma Fraternity is
represented on 209 college and university campuses throughout North
America.

"San Diego State University takes the issue of alcohol abuse
seriously and has a comprehensive set of measures in place to address
underage drinking, binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems
among its campus population," said James Kitchen, vice president,
Division of Student Affairs. "These programs are working, as
evidenced by a 2001 study that showed the binge-drinking rate of SDSU
students is 43 percent below the national average. However, for
those individuals and student organizations found in violation of our
polices there will be clear consequences."

SDSU has received national recognition from the U.S. Department of
Education as a national leader for its alcohol education and
enforcement programs. The university supports these programs through
the SDSU Police, Student Health Services, Housing and Residential
Life, Counseling and Psychological Services and the Center for
Fraternity and Sorority Life.

I saw this on Fraternal News. I always hate to see any chapter closed because it weakens the system as a whole.

I hope they have good results in recolonization.

Delta alum

I was reading the press releases .. . does this seem like a strong enough reason to shut down a chapter?

Basically it says that a group of pledges were found with an executive officer in a garage in the prescence of a large amount of alcohol. Given today's climate I am going to assume if they were intoxicated it would have mentioned it in the article.

So the chapter was suspended because they intended to have a party later where the pledges were invited and alcohol would be around.

I am not questioning the decisions of the National Officers, that is highly discouraged, but I was wondering if this seemed apropriate to you.

Rationalizations aside.

It also looks more like the National was acting in response to the fact the University is obviously cracking down on visible drinking.

When have you ever been one to not question?

James,

Truth is this did strike me as a bit premptive, especially since the alleged violation didn't even happen on fraternity property (at least that's my assumption from reading the two releases -- unless the garage is owned by the chapter). I agree that, had the officer or pledges been drinking, the story(ies) would probably have mentioned it.

I suppose it is technically illegal for an underage person to be in possession of alcohol. I wonder if any of the containers were open? There are a lot of questions left unanswered.

Actually, I find the releases a little confusing. One of them mentions hazing -- the other hazing with alcohol. I'm pretty unclear on exactly what the violation is/was.

Perhaps there are circumstances we don't know.

For instance, it says this is the second violation in the past five years. I wonder what the first violation was? In other words, is this one the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back after another more serious event? Has this chapter had a troublesome history? Risk Management problems?

I'd be interested in Brad's input on this one, but on the face of it, I agree with what I think you're saying -- it seems like a bit of a knee jerk to me.

Irony Noted
 

I remember a few years back that a guy from Kappa Sigma at SDSU came to Shippensburg University as part of the national IFC group (based out of Indianapolis) to tell all of the greeks there what they were doing "wrong" and how much he knew from his chapter and SDSU etc. Most of the time he was there was spent hanging out with the local KS brothers and talking them up.

I find it highly Ironic that the Chapter of Kappa Sigma was closed in 2000 at Shippensburg for a variety of nonsense and that this "consultant" of sorts own chapter bought it this year at SDSU-

This Irony is Duly noted

Jason Lenox

So, the previous closing may or may not have been justified. This one would appear to be -- "pending the outcome of an investigation." And this one really hurts since it is a big Delt chapter involved.

I'm going to be in Norman this weekend on a college hunting trip with my son. I was going to stop by the house. Now, I probably won't since they probably wouldn't be interested in chatting with a division officer.

Crap!

Another chapter banner to come off the wall at Karnea this summer.

The Associated Press
March 30, 2002

Officer injured, fraternity suspended after brawl at OU

NORMAN, Okla. -- A University of Oklahoma fraternity has been
suspended after a brawl that resulted in more than two dozen arrests,
police said.

"The Delta Tau Delta fraternity has been suspended pending the
outcome of an investigation," OU spokesman Jeff Hickman said Friday.
"Basically, they can live in the house, but that's it."

Hickman said no students have been suspended. The university will
investigate the incident, he said.

Police responded to a fight in the parking lot of the Sigma Phi
Epsilon fraternity house about 3:30 a.m. Friday morning.

According to police, several members of Delta Tau Delta fraternity
went to the Sigma Phi Epsilon house and a large fright broke out.
About 100 people were involved in the fight and several people were
injured, police said.

Joshua Patrick Miller, 20, was beaten several times with a club or a
bat, police said. Miller was transported to a Norman hospital, where
he was treated for a head injury and released, hospital officials
said.

Police said 25 people were cited or arrested for several offenses,
including public intoxication, disturbing the peace and destruction
of private property.

Eight police officers responded to the fight, said Norman police Lt.
Glenn Dobry.

"There were some problems with beer bottles being thrown at officers,
and some of them were spit on," Dobry said.

One police officer suffered minor injuries to his hands and arms
after being pushed down, he said.

I live about 45 minutes away from Norman and heard about all that. I'm sorry it happened. At OU lately charters have been getting yoinked left and right lately. The administration is on some kind of holy crusade against open parties and such. The old culture of fraternities is dying hard there.

LHT
Kevin
MT 5
University of Central Oklahoma

Now, I don't know these guys from Adam, but if you get in trouble once, keep your nose clean. They found them in a UNIVERSITY parking garage. SDSU says:

Possession or consumption of distilled liquor on University property is prohibited at all times. Possession, consumption, or sale of beer or wine is permitted at designated campus locations and events only with prior approval of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

So, apparently they had no permission to have alcohol, or it wouldn't have been a violation.

Secondly, both press releases were sent out by people who may not look so great if it were known that the new members were drunk. Kappa Sigma wants as little press as possible in that vein, as does SDSU.

Finally, you cannot possess alcohol as a minor, period! All of these underage guys were "in possession" as the press release states, and therefore, puts them in violation of the law.

Are the sanctions too tough? I don't know the first situation to say yes or no, but I know that Theta Chi at our campus was shut down after getting caught three times with kegs. National organizations aren't going to tolerate this stuff anymore, as we are all aware. But the national has stated they want to recolonize, and that seems to me like a positive step towards a better brotherhood if these guys can't stick with the rules.

Shadokat,

To me an important point, and one we all seem to overlook is your first -- to paraphrase, "If you screw up once, don't do it again."

I know that all of your points are technically correct, however a lot of these things are overlooked daily by many universities and police departments. Or at lease they don't cause such catistrophic results for chapters.

I guess SDSU is really serious about "Zero Tolerance."

I hope all of the other chapters on that campus take note.

How is this a second violation? Some members did something stupid 5 years ago when some of the current members were in 8th grade, so now the current members are called repeat offenders. If one of their alumni broke a rule 40 years ago would this be their third offence?

James...

On the Insurance/liability thread , you were the person that endorsed a zero tolerance policy when it comes to underage drinking and violations of the law. You wanted to expell members that drink underage and break the law. Now you are second guessing a national that has done just that.

Max,

Read it again.

It said the second violation "within a five year period." That could mean it was two years -- or four -- or one. It would very likely mean that there are still some members who were there for the first violation.

And, by the way, James certainly doesn't need me to defend his positions, but I believe you've taken his comments out of context. In the posting I read he clearly said he wasn't advocating automatic and immediate expulsion, while perhaps understanding (not putting words in his mouth, I hope) that the liability problem is so serious that it might be necessary for that to happen in the strictest interpretation of the law.

Well I guess it could have happend any time in the last 5 years. If the violation happened last year dont you think they would have said the second violation within the last year? Why would the writer even bring up 5 years?

Some of those guys could still be there though, maybe on the 5 or 6 year plan