|
Just thought ya'll might want an update...
University suspends fraternity
IFC president steps down to help his embattled brothers
Cetral Florida Future, 10/23/03
By Ben Baird
UCF has temporarily suspended the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity while conducting an investigation into a suspected hazing incident Oct. 16 that left one student hospitalized.
Just past midnight two trucks collided in a parking lot of the Lake Claire apartments, a collision that one driver described as an accident from not turning away in time after faking as if he was going to hit the other truck. According to UCF Police, one of the trucks was filled with SAE brothers and the other was filled with pledges of the fraternity.
In the accident, one of the pledges had his nose nearly severed, and witnesses said those riding in the back of the pledge pickup had been bound by duct tape.
According to UCF's Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, SAE has been placed on a summary suspension status pending a hearing to determine whether hazing was involved in the accident. A Student Conduct representative said the suspension is typical during the investigation of a student group.
The fraternity's status prevents them from participating in any kind of official social or sports activities. According to Jim Fisher, UCF's Homecoming director, the suspension also bars them from participating in this week's Homecoming events - leaving the fraternity's sorority partner, Zeta Tau Alpha, to go it alone.
The hearing will be conducted at an undisclosed time, but it will be within 10 days of the incident, as mandated by UCF's Golden Rule policy. A representative of Student Conduct said Tuesday that a decision in the matter would likely be reached within the week.
UCF now has two Greek organizations on suspension: SAE and the Zeta Phi Beta sorority. Greg Mason, UCF's director of Greek Affairs, said of the latter, "They were suspended by their own national organization, not by the university, for hazing and some other things."
A concurrent investigation into the SAE incident that is being conducted by SAE's national headquarters is progressing more slowly. "We're still piecing together the exact details of what happened," said Ryan Weiers, executive director of SAE's Southeast region. "These investigations usually take a while."
Weiers would not make any comment on what his investigation has unearthed. He and SAE's executive director were in Orlando on Saturday for an unrelated event, and used the time to interview chapter members.
"We met with the university, and had a long meeting with the chapter," Weiers said. He added that the meeting with the chapter's executive board turned up very little, as none of the chapter's officers had been present at the accident.
Weiers did say he felt the university to this point has taken the correct action on the matter. "It's the same thing that we would do in the situation," he said. "It's pretty common."
On Wednesday an emergency meeting of the Interfraternity Council met to discuss the matter. At the meeting IFC president Ryan O'Rourke, a member of SAE, stepped down from his post.
"While I am dedicated to the betterment of our entire Greek community, I have an obligation to my own chapter," O'Rourke told the assembled representatives of UCF's 18 fraternities. "I hope you will all understand that this is something my chapter needs and that I need to be there supporting SAE in our time of crisis."
O'Rourke said his return to the head of IFC is contingent on the matter being resolved, or new officers being elected. In O'Rourke's absence the IFC's executive vice president, Matt Hinton of Lambda Chi Alpha, will be assuming the duties of president.
Following O'Rourke's announcement, council members expressed solidarity with SAE. "Now more than ever we must unite as a Greek community and stand together," O'Rourke said.
|
Linear Mode
