U. of New Mexico Suspends Sigma Alpha Epsilon

[exlurker]

The U. of New Mexico is suspending the SAE chapter pending investigation. The action appears to be the result of allegations that a member had sex with a minor. Story is on a New Mexico NBC affiliate's web site at:

http://kob.com/article/stories/S168473.shtml?cat=504

[AlwaysSAI]

Wow....

I thought SAEs were the true gentlemen....


I had to say it

[Tom Earp]

Unfortunitly it does happen. But to put a whole GLO on see Ya status?

Give me a break!

Oh, women do not lie about their ages!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Unfortunitly it does happen. But to put a whole GLO on see Ya status?

Give me a break!

Oh, women do not lie about their ages!

I have to agree with Tom on this one. I don't see anything that says the whole fraternity participated in this or condoned it.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I have to agree with Tom on this one. I don't see anything that says the whole fraternity participated in this or condoned it.

Good point, and I agree, 33girl. A newspaper in New Mexico, though, does say that SAE HQ has sent the chapter a "cease-and-desist letter." I think that step is moderately serious, but not like withdrawing the charter. Certainly I would hope and expect that an entire chapter wouldn't be involved in what the one member is alleged to have done:

". . . Randy Boeglin, UNM’s dean of students, said the fraternity has been temporarily suspended. He said the fraternity house will remain open, but its estimated 35 to 40 members can’t hold social activities.

Boeglin added the national headquarters of Sigma Alpha Epsilon sent the UNM chapter a cease-and-desist letter. . . ."

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/66752.html

[Animate]

Yeah this seems a bit harsh to punish them all for the actions of one. Especially since his actions were not fraternity related.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I have to agree with Tom on this one. I don't see anything that says the whole fraternity participated in this or condoned it.

I agree too. However, if it appears that someone else is holding the camera - in this case the cell phone - then that person could be considered an accomplice. And if the video shows that the alleged rape took place in the house, then the police and IHQ might feel that the accomplice might be a member. Or that someone in the chapter knows something and hasn't come forward yet. Granted the article didn't say that any of these scenarios is the case. But regardless of the known facts, IHQs tend to err on "the safe risk management side". And in this case, most likely issued a cease-and-desist letter until the investigation is complete and/or the chapter cleared.

[jon1856]

Per these report, he is NOT a Brother:
http://www.krqe.com/Global/story.asp?S=6936412
McGuffin lived at the house, although he was not a member and had been suspended from UNM for academic reasons.
During the summer, according to G. Randy Boeglin, UNM's dean of students, non-members were allowed to rent rooms at the SAE house.

Student accused of sex with minor; UNM suspends frat

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/aug...sed-sex-minor/

[BadSquirrelBeta]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Unfortunitly it does happen. But to put a whole Oh, women do not lie about their ages!

Ya, agreed...it was one of the biggest jokes after all on Animal House...remember the Mayor's daughter?

[DeltAlum]

It appears that New Mexico is trying to prove a point or something.

I'm going to try to take snippets from an article posted in Fraternal News. Since this is an e-mail subscription, I can't provide a link, but the article is in the Albuquerque Tribune.

(Underlining is mine)

"Three of the University of New Mexico's six fraternities have been
placed on emergency suspension in the span of a week..."Sigma Alpha Epsilon was suspended Aug. 14 after UNM police arrested a
member on charges he had sex with several underage girls.

Phi Delta Theta was suspended on Aug. 17 after parents of a 16-year-old
girl told university officials they found her passed out drunk at the
fraternity house.

Kappa Sigma was suspended on Aug. 21 after an investigation into an
early morning fight led UNM police to believe alcohol - which isn't
allowed in any fraternity, sorority or student housing - was involved."

The newspaper website seems to be a subscription only site.

Here is a link to The Daily Lobo, the university (assuming student) newspaper story:

http://media.www.dailylobo.com/media...-2935463.shtml

It's a little difficult to tell, but my read on these suspensions is that the chapters may be being punished for the transgressions of one, or a fairly small number, of members.

If nothing else, it appears that chapters are being suspended on as yet unsubstantiated claims.

It's kind of interesting that one of the articles points out that the university president is a Greek alum, and says that fraternities have good things to add to the university.

I find this whole thing pretty confusing.

See what you think...

[RU OX Alum]

this will happen until some one grows a spine and handles

[jon1856]

A follow up story:
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/aug...say-troubled-/
Greek students at the University of New Mexico say troubled fraternities spoil image

[DeltAlum]

Take a look at the responses following the article on the link in Jon's post just above.

While one would seem to ballance the other, they both indicate to me that we, as a system, have a serious problem.

The fact that our philanthropy work isn't well known is NOT the fault of any media or reporter. It's ours for not getting the word out constantly.

But that's a whole other topic that has been talked to death before in this and other forums.

Plus, as the first writer mentions, these are alleged felonies we're talking about.

The other thing we just will never get away from is that most of the things that get chapters closed are against the law -- although not necessarily felonies.

I'm a little past the point of thinking than many undergraduates understand what the consequences of that means.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

Take a look at the responses following the article on the link in Jon's post just above.

While one would seem to ballance the other, they both indicate to me that we, as a system, have a serious problem.

The fact that our philanthropy work isn't well known is NOT the fault of any media or reporter. It's ours for not getting the word out constantly.

But that's a whole other topic that has been talked to death before in this and other forums.

Plus, as the first writer mentions, these are alleged felonies we're talking about.

The other thing we just will never get away from is that most of the things that get chapters closed are against the law -- although not necessarily felonies.

I'm a little past the point of thinking than many undergraduates understand what the consequences of that means.

DeltAlum while I have railed about how the news media has handled GLO situations I am right to an extent.

It has to be sensational to be of new or it will not get on air or printed. But basically, whose true fault is it? Ours as GLO's, perioid.

Alledge accusations is really a BS deal, people only beleive what they see or hear, not alledged.

As I have said many times, We are our own worst enemies.

SAE and some others seem to be leaders of the pack. Why? I do not know?

But, whether it is SAE or others, it has to stop.

We are supposedly a dieing breed. I would hate to see that.