WSU Sigma Nu Charter Revoked (Hazing)

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Kevin

the decision to revoke the Chapter's charter, made by the Fraternity's High Council (board of directors), follows confirmation of violations of the Fraternity's laws, policies and principles primarily related to the misuse of alcohol, as well as acts of hazing.
...
"We were also disturbed that images related to these violations were posted by Chapter members on Internet web sites such as MySpace and Facebook," said Pitts. "The glorification of conduct like this is very concerning and simply not acceptable in our Honor Fraternity."

Emphasis added by me. Note that the release states that the violations were confirmed, meaning Sigma Nu did conduct an investigation. It also implies that the photos were just the icing on the cake...that the fraternity found it especially appalling that the chapter seemingly PROMOTED the shady acts online.

ETA: The fraternities at WSU have had a bad time in recent years. Sooner or later all the fraternities might be gone, leaving the sororities as the only greeks. I wouldn't be surprised if Sigma Chi national puts pressure on its guys at WSU to add numbers and move into the house if they can, given how strong the chapter is at UW.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Emphasis added by me. Note that the release states that the violations were confirmed, meaning Sigma Nu did conduct an investigation. It also implies that the photos were just the icing on the cake...that the fraternity found it especially appalling that the chapter seemingly PROMOTED the shady acts online.

ETA: The fraternities at WSU have had a bad time in recent years. Sooner or later all the fraternities might be gone, leaving the sororities as the only greeks. I wouldn't be surprised if Sigma Chi national puts pressure on its guys at WSU to add numbers and move into the house if they can, given how strong the chapter is at UW.

I'm sure we'll be back to colonize in pretty short order. I think the way we run our newer chapters is pretty good -- if they can implement our national programming at WSU, I think they can be a reasonably successful chapter (and a much safer one).

[SNUIGC]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I'm sure we'll be back to colonize in pretty short order. I think the way we run our newer chapters is pretty good -- if they can implement our national programming at WSU, I think they can be a reasonably successful chapter (and a much safer one).

New and just had to jump in here real quick. But, yeah, I got to talk to Jake Welshans and Chris Healy who are in charge of our (Sigma Nu's) stuff and they said they're going probably going to wait a couple of years before going back.

On the topic on new chapters, as a colony at Miss. State they make sure we do everything by the book, they check everything and even come down alot to make sure everything's going according to plan.

It sucks that WSU chapter was shut down for hazing... I actually know a couple of people up there and they swear up and down that there wasn't any hazing going on at all. But, I mean, didn't HQ do a thorough inspection of everything that was going on?

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by SNUIGC

New and just had to jump in here real quick. But, yeah, I got to talk to Jake Welshans and Chris Healy who are in charge of our (Sigma Nu's) stuff and they said they're going probably going to wait a couple of years before going back.

On the topic on new chapters, as a colony at Miss. State they make sure we do everything by the book, they check everything and even come down alot to make sure everything's going according to plan.

It sucks that WSU chapter was shut down for hazing... I actually know a couple of people up there and they swear up and down that there wasn't any hazing going on at all. But, I mean, didn't HQ do a thorough inspection of everything that was going on?

A tutor I had years ago was a member of a very old fraternity at Cal. His chapter was shut down for hazing and he knew nothing of the hazing event as he wasn't involved with it, and had no idea anything had even happened until his HQ showed up and shut them down. I firmly believe things can happen in a chapter that members know nothing about until later. Maybe they live in an apartment, they are away because they are student athletes, have a job, and so on.

If I remember right the house at Wazzu had a lot of work recently done (or was it rebuilt?) and the guys at Idaho just did a huge remodel, and it looks amazing.

[banditone]

Yes, they did a major renovation on the interior of the house.



There are better pics out there on the web of the interior.

I have read that this chapter got in some trouble in the past for hazing. And if something like that happened again, then I can see our nationals pulling the charter.

You just can't do that stuff anymore. Insurance costs are through the roof for fraternities, and they aren't playing around. You haze. Your gone. Hopefully to come back in 2 years as the most optimistic timeframe (altho, the KU Sigma Nu chapter is re-colonizing already, and I believe it has been less then 2 years).

[SigKapCoug]

Originally Posted by banditone

Hopefully to come back in 2 years as the most optimistic timeframe

Sigma Nu has lost university recognition for no less than 3 years. At the end of 3 years (assuming they get their charter back) they will recolonize and be allowed a position as an associate member of IFC. Before the university will grant them full recognition, they must receive enough votes to be allowed to join IFC as a full member.

At least, that's the way I understand it.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by SNUIGC

It sucks that WSU chapter was shut down for hazing... I actually know a couple of people up there and they swear up and down that there wasn't any hazing going on at all. But, I mean, didn't HQ do a thorough inspection of everything that was going on?

I think I've said it elsewhere -- when I was a colony member, I was LC. I'll skip the gory details, but long story short, we booted a guy. The next week or so, our EC gets a phone call from HQ. Apparently, this fella and his mother (HIS MOTHER!) both called our hazing prevention hotline and reported our chapter for hazing. Someone from HQ called us, I believe it was the director of expansion, I don't know.. the EC got that call. At any rate, the guy and his mother had contrived some story about us hazing. The folks at HQ thought it was the funniest thing they'd heard in awhile. They just called to let us know that we had nothing to worry about.

The moral of the story is that our HQ won't generally act on anything (at least in my experience) without a lot more than a kid and his mommy making allegations.

As for those Acronyms, LC and EC refer to Sigma Nu offices -- LC is like Executive Vice President, EC = President.

[Sigma Nu ZK550]

Sigma Nu was founded against hazing. We all Know that . That being said , we have to guard ourselves against weaklings who confuse hard work with hazing. Mopping a floor, mowing a lawn trimming a hedge, painting the house! This is not hazing. This is showing an interest in the house a future Knight will someday call his own.
Sigma Nu Epsilon Tau Tau
ZK550

[Kevin]

Well said brother.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Well said brother.

Yes, it was.

But with the definition (or lack thereof) of hazing these days, you can still lose your charter for those seemingly harmless things.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Emphasis added by me. Note that the release states that the violations were confirmed, meaning Sigma Nu did conduct an investigation. It also implies that the photos were just the icing on the cake...that the fraternity found it especially appalling that the chapter seemingly PROMOTED the shady acts online.

ETA: The fraternities at WSU have had a bad time in recent years. Sooner or later all the fraternities might be gone, leaving the sororities as the only Greeks. I wouldn't be surprised if Sigma Chi national puts pressure on its guys at WSU to add numbers and move into the house if they can, given how strong the chapter is at UW.

Based only on what has been posted here (and yes, I did do a very down and dirty web search), I agree with you.

However, until other news comes out, we truly to not know what happened.

[ksigUWa]

ive heard that WSU's current president is VERY against the greek system and has made life very hard for them. ive also heard theres a new president coming soon and hopefully the greek system will get a little jump, but hopefully they learn NOT TO HAZE!!!

[SigKapCoug]

Originally Posted by ksigUWa

ive heard that WSU's current president is VERY against the greek system and has made life very hard for them. ive also heard theres a new president coming soon and hopefully the greek system will get a little jump, but hopefully they learn NOT TO HAZE!!!

The new president (Dr. Floyd) has already assumed his duties. Dr. Floyd is a Greek.

Our previous president (Rawlins) never did anything deliberately anti-Greek that I know of. He did work hard to change Wazzu's party school image, and I do believe that under his presidency our Greek Community has struggled.

You'll find a lot of Cougar Greeks who are very angry with the university for being "anti-Greek." I am beginning to feel that way too.

It'll be nice to see what Dr. Floyd does.

(yes i realize this thread is old, but I just saw this particular post)

[dznat187]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

ETA: The fraternities at WSU have had a bad time in recent years. Sooner or later all the fraternities might be gone, leaving the sororities as the only greeks. I wouldn't be surprised if Sigma Chi national puts pressure on its guys at WSU to add numbers and move into the house if they can, given how strong the chapter is at UW.

There are a number of chapters at WSU that have begun making some good strides and a few other chapters may be following soon. The Greek life office is doing a great job of making changes to help improve the greek community as a whole here at WSU. I would be careful to qualify or quantify a Greek community based on hearsay and without expereince at the university or in the chapter.

Also, the new president who has just taken office is really dedicated to helping out the Greek community at WSU. Unfortunately, no matter how much a university does for its Greeks many will think they are trying to shut it down are out to get it, etc. Granted a few schools are but most want to have a strong, successful greek community. if they didnt want Greeks, they'd be gone already.