SAE fights for zoning at State College, PA

hoosier · #1 06-27-2002, 02:30 PM

Tue, Jun. 25, 2002
Fraternity fighting eviction
From CDT staff reports

STATE COLLEGE -- The borough's zoning hearing board heard three hours of testimony Monday on whether a the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity should vacate its property at
200 E. Beaver Ave.

The board will meet at noon Friday to begin discussing the evidence, but that's no indication of when a decision would be reached. Discussion will be limited to board members.

"It will depend on how quickly the board can come to agreement," said Herman Slaybaugh, borough zoning officer. "There's no way to know how long it could take."

At issue is whether the fraternity can continue housing its members in the house at the corner of Beaver Avenue and Pugh Street.

Last October, Sigma Alpha Epsilon lost its affiliation with Penn State, a requirement for the nonconforming use of a fraternity in the borough's residential zone, Slaybaugh said.

The Interfraternity Council at Penn State suspended the fraternity for misconduct and misappropriation of funds from the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

The borough contends that, with the university affiliation gone, the fraternity is acting as a rooming house. Until the fraternity's reinstatement in fall 2003, it can rent out the house to another fraternity, but its own members can't live there, Slaybaugh said.

He estimated between 30 and 40 people lived in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon building during the recent academic year.

Attorney Alfred Jones, who is representing Sigma Alpha Epsilon, declined to be interviewed for this story.

madmax · #2 08-20-2002, 05:23 PM

Anyone out there from PSU?
Did SAE win the lawsuit?

LionTamer · #3 09-12-2003, 09:34 AM

SAE fraternity readmitted into IFC

By Jen Winberry
Collegian Staff Writer
After a year of meetings, board hearings and appeals, the members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) now have a place to call home.

At the beginning of the semester, the members were allowed to move back into the fraternity's house, located at 200 E. Beaver Ave, after the Interfraternity Council (IFC) readmitted the group on a probationary status.

"We are thrilled to be back in the house and have an active schedule again," said SAE President Josh Macuga (senior-business). "We did not condone the behavior of the two individuals involved, and they were removed from the fraternity."

In January 2001, the fraternity was removed from the IFC for violations including sexual assault, drug charges, misallocation of Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon funds and the use of chapter money to purchase alcohol.

A State College Zoning Hearing Board ruling handed down in August 2002 forced the fraternity to vacate the house, which it had called home since 1925.

SAE chapter adviser Kerry Small is also glad to have the members back in their house.

"The guys have waited patiently and everyone is excited to be back," he said. "We just want to move on and put this whole experience behind us."

The IFC would also like to get on with business as usual.

"We're glad that they've moved back into the house," IFC president Steve DiOrio said. "SAE went through the entire process of appeals and readmittance and has become a part of the IFC again."

Questions about the fraternity and the wrongdoings of their members still occasionally surface.

"Our disagreement with IFC was that we felt that the sanctions on the entire fraternity were excessive, extending far beyond what original IFC prosecutor intended," Macuga said. "In the end, unjust punishment was served, and it is time to move ahead."

The fraternity has not had any problems with fall recruitment despite their past troubles.

"When recruiting guys, questions have arisen about the past situations, but SAE has had an incredible interest from freshman and sophomore men so far this semester," Macuga said.

The IFC is confident that it made the right decision in readmitting the fraternity on the probationary status.

"We don't anticipate any future problems," DiOrio said. "I've been in contact with them, and they are exemplary people."
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This is one of the most beautiful houses at Penn State, where there are a lot of great houses, and I'm glad the guys can move back in.