Nmu

[Tom Earp]

The Albuquerque Tribune
November 2, 2005

Fraternity suspended following complaint

By Megan Arredondo
Tribune Reporter

Members of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at the University of New
Mexico are suspended, said Dean of Students Randy Boeglin, meaning
they are no longer recognized as an organization and not allowed to
hold social and philanthropic events.

The suspension comes after a 19-year-old woman told UNM police she
was raped at the fraternity house at 1815 Sigma Chi Road on Aug. 4,
according to a state District Court search warrant affidavit.

According to the affidavit, the woman had been drinking alcohol with
a 20-year-old fraternity member in his room.

The woman began to feel sick and decided to take a shower when the
suspect made advances toward her, the affidavit states.

She went back to his room to get her clothes and was raped, the
affidavit says. Another fraternity member heard the woman cry for
help and stopped the attack, after which the police were called.

According to the affidavit, UNM police searched the home on Aug. 5
and took evidence including rum bottles, clothes and bedding.

Lt. Pat Davis said UNM police completed their investigation and
referred the case to the violent crimes division of the District
Attorney's Office on Sept. 30.

"It's standard procedure in these cases," Davis said.

Davis would not release names of the victim and suspect until the
case is returned from the district attorney.

The fraternity was put on emergency suspension days after the complaint.

A hearing was held Oct. 5 to address the suspension, which is
independent of criminal charges the fraternity may face, Boeglin said.

A committee of students and administrators ruled then that fraternity
would be suspended until January 2007. The deadline to appeal the
suspension passed last week.

The fraternity must reapply to get its charter back.

The international organization is aware of the suspension and is
awaiting details on the case, said John Holloway, director of chapter
services for the fraternity's international offices in Indiana.

The international group may cease affiliation on the UNM campus,
where it has fewer than 15 active members, Holloway said.

"It's up to the international organization whether they want to
remain active," he said. "Right now, we're discussing with campus
administration the terms of the suspension."

Holloway said that the organization typically pulls out of a
university if it is not recognized as an organization.

"Either we're there or we're not," he said. "We don't do suspended status."

Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity began at UNM in 1949 and is one of 20
fraternal organizations on campus.

The fraternity had previously been placed on a one-semester emergency
suspension in 2001 for alcohol and risk management violations.

Copyright 2005, The Albuquerque Tribune. All Rights Reserved.




Just FYI.

[jcloud_lca]

Thats unfortunate.

[Tom Earp]

Yes John it is.

Now, I wonder if it is just one person and another Brother tried to Break it up, why would the whole Zeta Suffer unless Reasons We do not know about!

[john1082]

The chapter apparently was very small. They have dug a tremendously deep hole for themselves - even if it was only one guy involved - and it would be difficult for any chapter to recover. It is doubly tough here because they are small - any recruiting glitch could well sink them. The ill press that we have received on that campus has poisoned the environment for some time to come.

The Fraternity must make some difficult choices: Can the chapter recover? What resources would be needed to ensure that recovery? What is the long term prognosis at the campus. In this case it may be in the Fraternity's best interest to close the chapter at the University fo New Mexico and focus efforts on campuses where we have a greater liklihood of success.

[Tom Earp]

John G,

I agree with you totally. But two things come to mind.

1. Size of the Chapter compared to other Fraternitys.

2. Any and All GLOs want to be represented at Major State Uns.


With so much going on at IHQ and across LXA Dom, I wonder how lenient IHQ can be.

But, if one guy (I dont want to call Him a Brother), was attempting this and another came in to rescue said lady, why should a total Chapter be held responsibile?

Granted, I was not totally pleased with the ASU decission and situation, but anytime a GLO is mentioned, Hell Fire and Brimstone come down on our heads.

If it was reported to IHQ (?) then that should be taken into account as well.

I wish I had all of the answers but I dont, that is why We are discussing it here!

[john1082]

It is unfortunate, but time and treasure are limited. Having been a High Pi at a couple of schools, and a lawyer to boot, I would ask the following questions:

1. What facilitated the climate that would encourage a sexual assault? Too much liquor? A track record of taking advantage of girls? Generally being an asshole?

2. Why did the Brothers of the Zeta accept this environment?

3. I suspect that there was an environmental factor here; why didn't the chapter (including the High Pi) and the alumni recognize the factors that culminated in the assault?

There may not be enough actives at New Mexico to survive this incident. A membership review would surely oust some additional brothers who knew but didn't care about the direction the Zeta was headed. Would there be enough of a base left to start over with?

We have limited time and treasure. A terrible way to put it, but I know of no other way. Which chapters do we save, given that we can't save all of them? If a chapter's alumni step up and take an active role then perhaps there is a chance, but if the local alumni - and it takes more than one or two - fail to step up and agree to clean up and clean house then closing the Zeta is the alternative.

In addition, the local college or university may not want us around. If the relationship between the school and the Fraternity is not a cordial one then perhaps it is best that we leave and not burn up that time and treasure trying to save a relationship that has been lost.

[Tom Earp]

All of the Points are very Well Taken. This may very well be what IHQ is looking at with a sharp eye.

But the representation at a Major State College could be int he mix also. Not that We have Chapters in all Major States at Uns. today.

Granted, a decission has to be made and so be it.

If it Aint, Then, It Aint so do what needs to be Done and move on if there are major problemes over the Years. There are better times and Chapters that can be restored to health.

I still do not condone one person putting The Blame on a Single Chapter.