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UB Temporarily Suspends Fraternity Pending Hazing Review
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
The University at Buffalo (UB) has suspended the Sigma Chi Omega fraternity pending a University review of reports of hazing and student conduct violations. The student members of these groups are cooperating with the investigation.
The group has been featured in MTV's "Fraternity Life." The television episodes began airing their 13 scheduled episodes on Wed., Feb. 26. MTV contracted directly with the featured students, not with UB, and most of the filming took place in MTV-rented residences outside the UB campus.
After viewing the first episodes, UB was concerned that some of the students' actions may constitute hazing.
Although the school has received no complaints from participating students, UB's long-standing policy is to suspend groups suspected of hazing, pending a complete review, to protect students from any potential danger. UB defines hazing as any action that produces mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, ridicule or impairment of academic efforts.
To date, all participating students remain students in good standing at UB. During the suspension, all Sigma Chi Omega fraternity activities will stop, including new member education and group-sponsored activities. The groups will not be entitled to campus support or funding pending satisfactory completion of the review.
If deemed necessary by the review committee, disciplinary actions will be taken by the Student-wide Judiciary and University Police as appropriate.
MTV contracted directly with the student organizations and the individual students and all of the show content was directly controlled by MTV. UB did not endorse or participate in the production. The University did permit on-campus filming in an effort to provide a more balanced look at student life. The shows were primarily filmed off campus, in pledge houses that were not UB residences. The houses were rented, furnished and maintained by MTV.
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