WSU Sigma Nu Charter Revoked (Hazing)

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by TSteven

Bottom line is that in and of their own selves, pictures might not be sufficient to close a chapter. However, they can be more than sufficient to warrant an investigation by HQ. In other words, pictures can often be "the smoke" when it comes to the saying: "Where there is smoke, there is fire."

We also have no idea what may have happened in the past. It may be the final action in a string of incidents we aren't privy to. I am sure Kevin can confirm this, but chapters aren't usually closed without careful though and consideration, especially one with a long history and obvious awards.

[SigKapCoug]

I of course don't know for sure, but campus rumors are they were shut down for hazing.

The two unhouses chapters - Sigma Chi, TEKE, are probably too small to make it reasonable to lease the house - which is HUGE.

The house mother for my chapter and I always joke how nice it would be to gut their house and move in (as its a stereotypical frat house on the inside - stains, holes in walls..).

Sigma Nu finished the semester with a GPA over 3.0 (very high for a fraternity on our campus) and was/is one of the largest chapters on campus. From what I understand, they were under a lot of pressure from alumni to get grades up in order to possibly save the chapter, but I don't know how much truth there is to that.

[tallgreekalum]

I've noticed that a number of fraternities seem to be adopting a pull first, grant appeals later philosophy as of late. For instance, the infamous Ole Miss Kappa Sig incident, which involved KS pulling the charter over a facebook pic from a year before. After the chapter jumped a lot of hoops, they were granted probationary status. Due process is not the trend, it seems. KS did the same at Lehigh, but in their case, it resulted in the chapter losing campus housing. I don't think that would fly in AD. Not that we have any hazing/substance use issues in AD!

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by SigKapCoug

. . .Sigma Nu finished the semester with a GPA over 3.0 (very high for a fraternity on our campus) and was/is one of the largest chapters on campus. . . .

Recent grades and membership numbers at Washington State do indicate Sigma Nu's high grade ranking there:

http://www.wsu.edu/GreekLife/Grade_R...Spring2007.htm

[KyleMcGuire1983]

hmmm yeah I got that email from national today about the charter pull.....then our alumni advisor re-sent it to everybody in the chapter and is all "see what happens when you haze? you guys better never haze"

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by KyleMcGuire1983

hmmm yeah I got that email from national today about the charter pull.....then our alumni advisor re-sent it to everybody in the chapter and is all "see what happens when you haze? you guys better never haze"

He's definitely on top of his game

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

We also have no idea what may have happened in the past. It may be the final action in a string of incidents we aren't privy to. I am sure Kevin can confirm this, but chapters aren't usually closed without careful though and consideration, especially one with a long history and obvious awards.

I couldn't agree with you more.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by TSteven

I couldn't agree with you more.

I won't pretend to know anything about this past what is in the news release.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I won't pretend to know anything about this past what is in the news release.

Frankly, unless it is public knowledge, it is Sigma Nu's business and no one else's.

[Kevin]

That's how I intend to keep it in here

Originally Posted by TSteven

Frankly, unless it is public knowledge, it is Sigma Nu's business and no one else's.

I agree.

In addition, I'd like to think this should apply to all GLOs as well.

Whatever goes on in a fraternity/sorority is the business of its members and its members only. Unless it's public knowledge, it's nobody else's business except that of the GLO.

I wish more GCers knew how to respect that.

[Kevin]

Absolutely. I delete rumors and hearsay with extreme prejudice no matter what the organization. Sorry if I implied I would be unfairly acting to protect my own organization.

Originally Posted by Kevin

Absolutely. I delete rumors and hearsay with extreme prejudice no matter what the organization. Sorry if I implied I would be unfairly acting to protect my own organization.

Oh no, that's not what I got from your post at all.

I left that comment mainly because we've often seen situations on GC where non-members like to stick their noses where they don't belong.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by OTW

Oh no, that's not what I got from your post at all.

I left that comment mainly because we've often seen situations on GC where non-members like to stick their noses where they don't belong.

I definitely appreciate your help in helping me/us catch these things. Thanks for that.

Normally I'm very anti-thread hijack.. but this thread? I'm not a huge fan of the subject.

And the OP is a pompous ass.

[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.