Dec. 2, 2003 - Lincoln, Neb. - University of Nebraska-Lincoln Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs James Griesen today announced University Judicial Board sanctions against Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity for various hazing and alcohol violations. The sanctions come after a Nov. 20 meeting of the Judicial Board, at which SAE alumni adviser Chad Vyhlidal proposed an eight-point reorganization plan to be directed by SAE alumni.
The agreement with the University Judicial Board allows the fraternity to remain open under specific conditions. Under the agreement, a 10-member Alumni Commission will be vested with full authority for the operation of the fraternity, and two residential advisers will provide educational and leadership guidance to the student members. Current members of the fraternity wishing to continue to participate in the chapter will be required to sign an Ethics of Membership Agreement. The fraternity will not recruit any new members this spring, but will be allowed to resume recruitment for the 2004-05 academic year.
"The alumni leaders of UNL's SAE chapter have put forth a new model for redeveloping a fraternity chapter that has demonstrated behavioral problems," Griesen said. "Their plan details a logical path to the development of an SAE Chapter in which the National Fraternity and the University of Nebraska will be able to take great pride." Griesen noted that the proposed Ethics of Membership Agreement will commit each SAE member to a set of behavioral standards designed to prevent violations of this type from occurring in the future.
On Nov. 20, the University Judicial Board met to consider charges of student code of conduct violations that had been filed against Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. The board, consisting of five students and four faculty members, received a document detailing eight alleged hazing violations and three alcohol violations. These violations allegedly occurred between Aug. 20 and Oct. 4 of this year. They ranged from compelling pledges (through force of social pressure) to consume whiskey and beer, to "trashing" the chapter house and then making the pledges clean up the mess.
The UNL Code of Student Conduct prohibits hazing as well as the unlawful dispensing of alcohol by student organizations. The university permits fraternities and sororities to become "approved university housing" if they agree to meet specified conditions regarding the operation of their chapter houses and the behavior of their members. In the case of the Nebraska chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, approved student housing status was withdrawn by the university on Oct. 14, 2003, because of allegations that fraternity pledges were mistreated during incidents of hazing that involved the consumption of alcohol.
On Nov. 20, SAE alumni adviser Chad Vyhlidal represented the chapter at the hearing, and was accompanied by five leaders from the undergraduate chapter. Vyhlidal and the undergraduate leaders present did not contest the charges. The Judicial Board found the chapter in violation of the Student Code of Conduct on all charges that had been presented by Matthew Hecker, Director of Student Judicial Affairs.
Vyhlidal then submitted an extensive plan for the reorganization and redevelopment of the SAE Chapter at UNL that had been formulated by alumni leaders and the SAE National Fraternity Board of Directors. Griesen, Hecker, and Linda Schwartzkopf, director of Greek Affairs, all indicated support for the plan.
- The Chapter will be permitted to remain open. However, in an extraordinary reorganization notably different from fraternity custom, a 10-member Alumni Commission will be vested with full authority for the operation of the UNL SAE Chapter. This authority includes decisions of membership, selection/election of officers, member education, and chapter programming. The Alumni Commission process is expected to last two to four years, depending on how effectively the students respond.
- Current members of the chapter (pledges and initiated members) who wish to participate in the new chapter will be required to sign an Ethics of Membership Agreement. This contract includes a commitment to adhere to the policies of the SAE House Corporation, the National Fraternity, and UNL members.
- The traditional pledge period will be eliminated. New members will participate with all active members of the fraternity in a three-day leadership development program, and will then become initiated members of the fraternity.
- A new member development program will provide educational and leadership development growth opportunities for all undergraduates, freshman through senior.
- Two residential advisers will be employed, one located on each of the two floors of the chapter house on which student rooms are located. It is anticipated that these residential advisors will be graduate or professional students. They will be expected to provide educational and leadership guidance to the students.
- The housemother will assume a broader role in the everyday activities of the chapter.
- The management system of the chapter will be streamlined. In the process, the responsibilities of specific officers will be increased and younger members will be given opportunities to contribute through apprentice-type roles or as committee members.
- Initiated members currently living outside of the fraternity house will be required to meet with the Alumni Commission in an interview format. The commission members will decide whether each student is invited to renew his membership and sign the Ethics of Membership Agreement. If invited to continue as an active member, the student will be expected to move back to the fraternity house by the start of the 2004-05 academic year.
In agreeing to support the redevelopment plan submitted by the alumni, Griesen, Hecker and Schwartzkopf made the following stipulations:
1) Current pledges living in university residence halls or at their family home in Lincoln will not be permitted to return to the SAE chapter house unless and until the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs determines that university-approved housing status can be restored to the SAE house.
2) The two Residential Advisers to be hired must be deemed qualified for the position by both the Alumni Commission and the three university officials working with the alumni to implement this plan (Griesen, Hecker, and Schwartzkopf).
3) The two Residential Advisers must provide progress reports to the Director of Greek Affairs and to the Alumni Commission on a monthly basis.
4) The contracts for the two Residential Advisers and the housemother will be with the Alumni Commission or the SAE House Corporation Board, and said contracts will specify an obligation to report to the Director of Student Judicial Affairs and the Alumni Commission any known infractions of the UNL Student Code of Conduct that occur.
5) The SAE fraternity will be on conduct probation through the first semester of the 2005-06 academic year.
6) That all sanctions shall be considered conditional until Dec. 11, 2003, at which time the Judicial Board (or specified representatives of the Judicial Board) shall reconvene to determine if sufficient progress has been made toward implementing the alumni-proposed plan that would warrant the finalization of these sanctions. If it is determined that sufficient progress has not been made, the full Judicial Aboard will be asked to reconsider the sanctions to be imposed.
Lastly, the University Judicial Board agreed to impose the following sanctions on the UNL Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon:
- Full implementation of the Leadership Plan for Change put forth by the alumni leaders of the chapter.
- All of the stipulations recommended by Griesen, Hecker, and Schwartzkopf.
- A provision that any future violations of the Student Code of Conduct by SAE during the course of conduct probation will result in closing of the chapter house.
CONTACT: James Griesen, vice chancellor, Student Affairs, 402-472-3755
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Posted by Tom Simons, Office of University Communications
Phone: (402) 472-8514, Fax: (402) 472-7825