---- Amazingly, the campus admin. loves the chapter, and thinks the suspension was too much, according to this article -----
http://media.www.mtsusidelines.com
Sigma Nu Fraternity accused of hazing
Christin Pepple
Issue date: 1/18/07 Section: News
The Sigma Nu Theta Iota Chapter was under investigation in November from their national office in Lexington, Va., after several concerns were brought to the office's attention regarding the chapter's fall pledge class.
The investigation continued for several weeks, until the decision was made to revoke the charter for the Theta Iota Chapter under accusations of "violations of the Fraternity's laws, policies and principles primarily related to the treatment of candidate [pledged] members of the chapter," according to Brad Beacham, Executive Director of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc., in a Dec. 15 press release.
In a Jan. 17 press release, it was made clear that allegations have been made against members who may have participated in hazing over the past three years.
"The fraternity's board of directors reserves the right to revoke the charter when they believe circumstances warrant it," said Beacham. "Significant violations, as there were in this case, led our board of directors to conclude that it was wise to revoke the charter in this instance."
Sigma Nu has an anonymous hazing hotline, which allows any hazing to be reported. The hotline is available in e-mail form and a telephone service is available 24 hours a day. It is available to both undergraduate members, parents or anyone concerned with hazing.
"I received a phone call from a concerned parent of one of their candidates on the same day that I received it from another parent from the hazing hotline," said Gentry McCreary, director of Greek Life at MTSU.
"The national office felt they needed to conduct an investigation and their findings were that there were some inconsistencies in the program and felt the need to revoke the charter after consultation with chapter alumni leaders," McCreary said.
Chassen Haynes is the new president of the chapter. He was elected for the spring semester after the investigation took place.
"Everyone feels that we were dealt with in the wrong manner. Both the campus and myself believe that it was a very harsh and rash decision that was made," Haynes said.
Haynes said that obviously there were issues that needed to be handled concerning what was done, especially since this past year, Sigma Nu adopted a zero-tolerance policy concerning the hazing of pledges.
"The campus had several guidelines that they wanted to see done, but, overall, it was going to be much more effective than just revoking our charter," Haynes said. "So revoking our charter wasn't the best thing that could have happened,"
McCreary said they are currently working with the Sigma Nu chapter in hopes of an appeal.
Bob Glenn, MTSU vice president for Student Affairs and vice provost for enrollment management, stated in the Jan. 17 press release that he felt the punishment was too harsh. He said he was disappointed in the fact that the alumni and national members were supposed to be in partnership with the administration to decide the severity of the punishment given to the Theta Iota chapter.
"We don't think the national office is acting in a way that is consistent with a true partnership," Glenn stated in the press release.
"We are, as of now, aiding the chapter in the hopes of an appeal," McCreary said. "We felt very strongly that Sigma Nu 'threw the baby out with the bath water,' so to speak."
McCreary strongly stated that the administration in no way condones hazing in any form or fashion, but that the actions of a few members should not affect the entire chapter.
"Sigma Nu was one of the most successful organizations on our campus," McCreary said. "They were one of the top fraternities in grades and leadership roles. You name it and there was someone from Sigma Nu involved in it."
McCreary continued to extol Sigma Nu's virtues as one of the great fraternities on this campus and that because of their status, the investigation came as a great shock to everyone.
"They are an outstanding organization," McCreary said. "This was such an appalling surprise due to how much we try and prevent hazing from happening."
McCreary said that while the actions taken by the members were atrocious, it was only the actions of a select few and the inability of the leadership of the fall semester to do their duty that was the problem.
"We feel that we can clean up the new member program," McCreary said. "We were not satisfied with what they did but we felt the situation was salvageable and that we could work with the chapter to make sure these things didn't happen again."
The effects of the hazing not only held repercussions for the entire chapter, it affected the pledges that were hazed during the fall semester.
"The fraternity has specifically communicated the fact that those individuals who were candidate members at the time of the revocation decision were able to become initiated if they wished," Beacham said.
While the charter is revoked from the Theta Iota chapter at MTSU, the question arises whether or not the members will still be allowed to live in their house on Greek Row.
McCreary said that members are being allowed to at least live out the rest of the semester in their house and that the parties involved will have a say when it comes time to decide how the house will be occupied.
Along with housing, charter and legal issues, the Theta Iota chapter still has the unidentified hazers to contend with.
Glen said in the press release that once the hazers are identified, they could face expulsion from the fraternity, university discipline and perhaps even face legal action since hazing is against the law.
Haynes made it clear that the whole house was not involved.
"We are just trying to make the gentlemen who participated in these activities realize the consequences of what they have done," Haynes said.
Even though the consequences of the action taken by some of the members of the chapter have been decided in favor of removing them from the campus, both the chapter and the national office hope that one day they can be reinstated.
"Our hope and desire is obviously that we are very much concerned with the loss of this chapter, we never want to see any chapters lost," Beacham said, "We have a long tradition at MTSU and it is a school where we would very much like to re-establish the chapter sooner rather than later."
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