Injured Lehigh Student Sues School and Alpha Sigma Phi

exlurker · #1 09-20-2005, 04:38 PM

A student is suing Lehigh, Alpha Sigma Phi (chapter and national), and the fraternity's adviser. The injury occurred in 2004. Among other things, the suit alleges that Lehigh knew the fraternity had problems but failed to keep the student safe. Details are in the article at:

http://www.nj.com/news/expresstimes/...230.xml&coll=2

Lindz928 · #2 09-20-2005, 04:51 PM

I understand sueing the guy who hit him to get back the medical expenses and such.... But the university AND the fraternity? Come on now....... It's not their fault that you pissed someone off.

DeltAlum · #3 09-20-2005, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lindz928

I understand sueing the guy who hit him to get back the medical expenses and such.... But the university AND the fraternity? Come on now....... It's not their fault that you pissed someone off.

You throw a bunch of...uh, mud at the wall and see what sticks. It's happening more and more these days.

It's at least partially why we see more and more schools taking tougher stands when it comes to governing Greek organizations. It's also why it's sometimes difficult to find alumni volunteers for our chapters.

There have even been some (well, at least one I can remember) where parents of chapter officers, etc. were sued.

Lindz928 · #4 09-20-2005, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum

It's at least partially why we see more and more schools taking tougher stands when it comes to governing Greek organizations.

I don't think it should have anything to do with governing greek organizations.... Something like that could JUST as easily have happened at a GDI party.

DeltAlum · #5 09-20-2005, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lindz928
I don't think it should have anything to do with governing greek organizations.... Something like that could JUST as easily have happened at a GDI party.

It really doesn't matter what any of us think. It's reality.

While you're right about the potential at any party, we're the ones who have fostered the "Animal House" reputation over the years and now we're having to deal with it.

The letters over the door are a very visible target.

Fair? No. Reality? Yes.

Lindz928 · #6 09-20-2005, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum

Fair? No. Reality? Yes.

Sadly... you are right about this.

exlurker · #7 09-23-2005, 08:26 PM

Alpha Sigma Phi Suspends Lehigh Chapter

Alpha Sigma Phi has suspended its Lehigh chapter. Students living in the house must move out. The campus paper has a long article:

http://www.bw.lehigh.edu/story.asp?ID=18890

Among other things, reportedly, the chapter's live-in advisor recently moved out, possibly out of concerns about liability. The article says it's likely that Alpha Sigma Phi will pull the chapter's charter, although that has not yet been done.

Alpha Sig Scott · #8 09-23-2005, 09:30 PM

It's highly unlikely that this chapter will be allowed to keep it's charter.

In the past, when I was in school 20 years ago, a fight between brothers would have been settled "in house". In fact, I only remember one fight between brothers in the 3 1/2 years I was an undergrad. I don't think this is a common occurance at any GLO, then or now. Closing an entire chapter because of one fight seems excessive to me. But according to the article there were other problems as well.

Anyway, the new reality is lawsuits all around, fair or not. And when a chapter puts the whole fraternity at risk with a lawsuit because of a fight, underage drinking or hazing that chapter, sadly, has to go.