SAE is "sorry" for damage

[hoosier]

une 19, 2004 9:23 AM PDT
Couple sues frat for damage to rental property

BEND (AP) - A Portland couple filed a $500,000 lawsuit against the University of Oregon chapter of a fraternity, claiming drunken students damaged their rental property in Sunriver.
The suit, filed last week in a Deschutes County court, contends that fraternity members from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter built a bonfire in the backyard, drove vehicles across the property, engaged in public drunkenness, nudity and urination, cut down trees and damaged the interior of the house.

Lester and Nora Brock are suing for negligence, fraud, timber trespass and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Kent Williams, a Sigma Alpha Epsilon adviser, said the fraternity was sorry about the party, which took place on a weekend in November 2003.
"Too often people are iconoclastic and go after whole institutions because of the mistake of a few individuals, and I think it's really bad," he said.
The university put the fraternity on probation for damage to the rental house. Sigma Alpha Epsilon was required to perform 150 hours of community service in Bend, as well as write letters of apology and pay for carpet cleaning and damage to a footbridge.
According to the lawsuit, Cameron Crockett, the University of Oregon student who rented the house, told the Brocks the house would be used by two couples and possibly some children.
On Nov. 7, the fraternity published on its Web site, "Next Friday is our annual trip to Sunriver. Ladies, if you lack a date, feel free to contact one of the fine gentlemen listed in the membership section."
On Nov. 18, according to the lawsuit, the fraternity published on its official Web site, "Last weekend was the Sunriver trip ... all I can say is it was OFF THE HOOK!"