SPE-Wake gone; but the pig is happy

[hoosier]

Wed, May 8, 2002
WFU suspends frat for 3 years
Sigma Phi Epsilon members are cited for incident with pig

By Michael Biesecker
JOURNAL REPORTER


Wake Forest University officials have suspended the local Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter for three years after 23 fraternity members were cited for animal cruelty involving a raucous party that featured a live pig.

The suspension came after a hearing last week before the dean of student services and an advisory panel of university faculty members, students and staff.

"The university considers this a substantial punishment," said Kevin Cox, a spokesman for Wake Forest. "This will essentially take them out of campus Greek life. They won't be able to have any parties or sponsor any social events."

Forsyth County Animal Control officers cited 23 fraternity members with abandoning a pig, a misdemeanor under the state's animal-cruelty laws. Of the 23 members, 21 were also cited for allowing livestock to run at large, also a misdemeanor.

The charges came after a party April 20 held by the fraternity under a rented picnic shelter at Tanglewood Park. The hog was found the next morning in some nearby woods - dehydrated, burned from exposure to heat lamps or the sun, and unable to stand. Park officials said that the pig was drunk.

University officials said in a written release yesterday that the party, which had a "redneck" theme, was held without the school's authorization or supervision.

If the individual fraternity members are found guilty of the offenses in court, Wake Forest might take further disciplinary action. The students are scheduled to appear in court May 9.

During the suspension, the fraternity will not function as an organization at Wake Forest and will forfeit the residence-hall lounge on campus it uses for fraternity activities. Members residing around the lounge may be reassigned to other campus residence halls.

Wake Forest now officially considers the fraternity a "probationary group." Members will be allowed to meet exclusively for the purposes of rehabilitation, community service and education according to conditions established and supervised by the university.

Any violation of Wake Forest rules during the suspension will result in permanent loss of the fraternity's charter, university officials said yesterday.

The fraternity will be able to apply for reactivation for the 2004-2005 academic year. By that time, many of the current members are likely to have graduated.

University officials said yesterday that an educational program would be established for the fraternity that will deal with a wide range of subjects, including organizational ethics, alcohol abuse and the ethical treatment of animals. The students also will be required to complete community service specifically related to the care, ethical treatment and protection of animals.

Sigma Phi Epsilon's national headquarters in Richmond has also suspended the local chapter's charter pending its own investigation.

The nearly 200-pound hog, which has been named "Famous Amos" by animal-shelter employees after the national media attention garnered by the case, has recovered from its ordeal. Barbara Cassidy, the director of Forsyth animal control, said that the pig would probably be placed for adoption within the next month.

"He's doing superb," Cassidy said. "He looks really happy, especially considering how he was when he came in. Several people have expressed interest in adopting him as a pet, and we will find him a really good home."