Sigma Nu at Radford "comes clean"

[hoosier]

Sigma Nu faces suspension
Hazing charges bring Sigma Nu in front of RU Judcial Board.

By Randy Sharp
February 25, 2003


Sigma Nu headquarters was notified of hazing going on at the RU chapter of the fraternity, who brought all activities to a halt.

The order applied to all gatherings associated with the RU chapter of the fraternity, including meetings and fundraisers. Members of the fraternity who sat on the inter-fraternity council, three in all, were removed.

All members of Sigma Nu were interviewed by the RU judicial board and it was then determined that hazing did in fact occur.

While RU holds a 'no tolerance' policy towards hazing, according to Patience Bartunek, Judicial Affairs, the hazing may not result in a total suspension.

RU code states that if there is hazing happening in an organization all members of the organization are held accountable on an individual basis for hazing. If a member of a group is hazed, they are held accountable for allowing themselves to be hazed.

The Sigma Nu fraternity was founded at VMI under a policy of 'no hazing', according to faculty advisor John Leonard.

Bartunek is adamant about RU's proactive stance on offenses. "The whole point of judicial board process is never to kick someone off." Though she does give that those held accountable must have consequences.

As of right now, there is no Sigma Nu fraternity at RU. Events that led up to this judicial review came to light via a letter sent to the National Headquarters of Sigma Nu. Reports of members being left far from home, abandoned and having to find their way home, and a member being admitted to he hospital due to hazing, led to the judicial review.

After the report was sent to Nationals and RU was notified, Sigma Nu "came clean" according to president Matt Pitcher.

Bartunek commends the fraternity for coming clean, and admits that it does weigh in their favor. The final word though may come from Sigma Nu Nationals. RU and Sigma Nu National Headquarters each work independently, and each can give sanction to a group or take it away independently. If RU decides to revoke their standing, the national organization may still leave them chartered. The same goes the other way, however Bartunek is less optimistic about that happening.

"If Sigma Nu Nationals revokes this chapter's standing, RU does not want to give license to an organization with no national support."

Pitcher is taking things "one step at a time. " "[We have] no set plans," said Pitcher.

All meetings or gatherings of Sigma Nu have been suspended, making Leonard's job more difficult.

"I am there for them on a one on one basis, some of these guys have been through a lot." Leonard also adds that on the official charges there is no explicit charge for forced alcohol, though at least one hospitalization may have been linked to drinking.

The most recent RU fraternity to be thrown off campus happened in the early 1990s. The fraternity known then as Sigma Phi Epsilon was suspended and has since been, according to city police, a "constant problem."

DETOX, one of a few off campus fraternities did suffer the fate that Sigma Nu may face, however Bartunek adamantly states that DETOX's transgressions have no effect on whether or not Sigma Nu is kept on.