Sigma Nu - Duke suspended for hazing

[hoosier]

Officials suspend Sigma Nu
Hazing is suspected in the case of six pledges who officials said were dropped off miles away and told to walk home intoxicated.

by Dave Ingram
April 15, 2003

Student Affairs administrators placed Sigma Nu fraternity on "interim suspension" Monday after Chapel Hill police officers found six of the group's pledges wandering intoxicated near Old Erwin Road.
Administrators said they were going to complete their investigation before issuing any judgment, but were looking into the incident as an act of hazing. They said they hoped to finish their work in about a week, and members of Sigma Nu have been prohibited from having any activities together in the meantime, including meetings and parties.

Police officers found the students, all of whom are freshmen, around 4 a.m. Monday morning near the Duke School for Children Middle School. Sue Wasiolek, assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students, said the students had been dropped off several miles from campus on Old Erwin - a long, winding road with few lights - and had been expected to find their way back. Officers from the Chapel Hill Police Department picked up the students and transported two of them to the Duke Emergency Department for treatment related to alcohol overconsumption. They were later released.

Wasiolek said suspension is a common way to prevent a living group from promoting any harmful activities while an investigation is ongoing.

"The totality of the circumstances dictated that we issue a suspension until the case can be resolved," she said.

Andrew Axelrod, president of Sigma Nu and a sophomore, declined to comment. Jeremy Morgan, president of the Interfraternity Council and a senior in Sigma Nu, could not be reached for comment.

Kacie Wallace, associate dean for judicial affairs, said the alleged incident follows several recent cases against Sigma Nu, including one for noise and one for damage to the residence halls. If administrators find evidence of hazing, she said, disciplinary action against the fraternity or its members could range from educational programs to dissolution of the living group.

"We are trying to figure out what happened before making any judgments," Wallace said. "We have no idea how many individuals were aware, were involved, that sort of thing."

Although four living groups have left campus in the last four years for various reasons, no living group has been dissolved for hazing in at least 10 years.

The University's bulletin describing student policies calls hazing a "serious infraction of university regulations." It is also a misdemeanor under North Carolina law, punishable by up to a $500 fine and/or six months imprisonment, according to the bulletin. Under the law, any student convicted for hazing, or aiding or abetting hazing, must be expelled from his or her university.

[Kevin]

What exactly is a "living group"?

[Tom Earp]

Hoosier, thank you for putting this on before I did!

Hey yall, "this is showing what SCHOOLS consider Hazing"!

As silly as it may sound, SN is no longer there! Well as far as the School is concerned. Ktsnake maybe you can shed a little more light on what the National might think!

It sucks, but it has become a fact of life.

We had" then" pledge classes make 5 ft. paddles to list their officers and members of that class! OOPs, it shows a sign of hazing!!! It is done NO MORE!

This is how nit picky and PC everything is becomeing!

Do as the Romans do, live with it and be safe.

I now wonder if the deaths of the 5 young ladys in a fire will be construed some way to make the death the fault of the Soroity?

[Kevin]

It's specifically against our hazing policy to have kidnappings or activities like have been alleged in this case. As far as what our IHQ decides to do because of this I couldn't tell you.

Every situation is unique and calls for a unique response. I was encouraged to see that they haven't dissolved a group on Duke's campus for 10 years so that angle looks okay.

Duke is one of Sigma Nu's oldest chapters. Gamma -- number 3 by my count. For perspective mine was founded last year and is number 272.

[Tom Earp]

K, good luck with the Chapter at Duke!

Mean that sincerely as you know me!

Heart is with Greeks! Only way to be is be a Greek!

[LeslieAGD]

Originally posted by ktsnake
It's specifically against our hazing policy to have kidnappings or activities like have been alleged in this case. As far as what our IHQ decides to do because of this I couldn't tell you.

Every situation is unique and calls for a unique response. I was encouraged to see that they haven't dissolved a group on Duke's campus for 10 years so that angle looks okay.

Duke is one of Sigma Nu's oldest chapters. Gamma -- number 3 by my count. For perspective mine was founded last year and is number 272.

You don't really think they'd dissolve your Gamma chapter over this, do you?

[Kevin]

Originally posted by LeslieAGD
You don't really think they'd dissolve your Gamma chapter over this, do you?

As I said for each unique problem there is a unique solution. It is my hope and I'm sure IHQ's that they never close a chapter. There are a lot of variables that are unanswered at this point. Such as will Duke continue to recognize the chapter -- what willt he school's reaction be?

It's certainly not my place to speak for what any party may or may not do.

[KEPike]

I would bet that if the situation was warranted, the could suspend or even revoke the charter, although probably not the latter. Pike's Epsilon (5th) Chapter at Virginia Tech has had its charter revoked twice over 120 years, so it's not unheard of.

What's weird about the article is that the Sigma Nu President is most likely related to me, since the majority of my family is from North Carolina and his last name is a derivation of mine, or vice versa.

[madmax]

Originally posted by ktsnake


Every situation is unique and calls for a unique response. I was encouraged to see that they haven't dissolved a group on Duke's campus for 10 years so that angle looks okay.

Duke hasn't dissolved any groups for hazing in the last 10 years but they have dissolved at least 3 groups in the last 4 years.

I know of Kappa Sigma, SAE, Phi Psi, and I think Theta Chi is on probation.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by madmax
Duke hasn't dissolved any groups for hazing in the last 10 years but they have dissolved at least 3 groups in the last 4 years.

I know of Kappa Sigma, SAE, Phi Psi, and I think Theta Chi is on probation.

What types of actions were they accused of (if hazing was alleged)? Do their actions equal or excede what SN has been accused of?

(assuming you're aquainted with greek life @ Duke)

[madmax]

Originally posted by ktsnake
What types of actions were they accused of (if hazing was alleged)? Do their actions equal or excede what SN has been accused of?

(assuming you're aquainted with greek life @ Duke)

http://www.chronicle.duke.edu/vnews/.../3dcfab62ded0f


http://www.chronicle.duke.edu/vnews/.../3dcfab52e40d9