Timeline – Sigma Alpha Epsilon
On March 3, 2016, the university’s Committee on Student Organizations received a complaint from a student against Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity regarding incidents that had occurred over the previous 18 months. Below is a timeline of significant events in the case.
Oct. 31, 2014 – At a Halloween party, the reporting student says that a fellow fraternity member addressed him with a racial slur and choked him for about five seconds until other members intervened.
Fraternity chapter leaders say that they were not told at the time that there was a racial component to the incident. They say the chapter’s Judicial Board imposed sanctions on the member including sober monitoring at events and barring him from attending a formal. This member graduated in December 2014.
No criminal report was filed.
March 2015 – A member of the fraternity ran down State Street yelling a racial slur. The fraternity expelled the member but he continued to be present at times at the chapter house. Another member involved in the incident was suspended.
Fall 2015 – The student says he continued to witness members using racial, anti-gay and anti-Semitic slurs. His objections to fellow members went unheeded.
December 22, 2015 – The student says he heard another member yelling a racial slur outside the house. The fraternity says it was unable to identify the member.
Feb. 26, 2016 – The student says he heard another member repeatedly singing a lyric containing a racial slur. The member denied doing so. No action was taken against him.
March 3, 2016 – The student filed a complaint against the fraternity with the university’s Committee on Student Organizations (CSO).
March 7, 2016 – The Division of Student Life notified the fraternity that it was under investigation for possible violations of the Student Organization Code of Conduct.
April 8, 2016 – The investigation concluded and findings were referred to the CSO, which must then schedule a hearing which provides the fraternity an opportunity to respond.
April 29, 2016 – The CSO held a hearing, reviewed the findings of the investigation and heard a response from the fraternity.
May 17, 2016 – CSO found the chapter had violated the nondiscrimination requirements of the Student Organization Code of Conduct and suspended the organization until Nov. 1, 2016. The chapter will be required to complete mandatory training and take other actions before it can be reinstated.