Four more fraternities placed on interim suspension following alcohol, hazing, health violations
Jack Molmud, Amal Younis, Kaitlyn Little, and Marion Ette
October 21, 2019
Four more fraternities have been put on interim suspension at San Diego State — bringing the total number of chapters facing disciplinary investigations to seven since late August.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon was disciplined on Oct. 4, with Kappa Sigma following on Oct. 10, Director of Student Life & Leadership Caryl Montero-Adams said in an email response. Both of these fraternities were disciplined due to alcohol and health and safety violations. Nu Alpha Kappa was disciplined on Sept. 25 for alcohol-related activities and hazing violations. Theta Chi was then disciplined on Oct. 10 for violating alcohol, health and safety and hazing policies, with violations of dishonesty and harassment and abusive behavior.
All of the chapters have been placed on interim suspension until the investigations into their wrongdoings have been completed, Montero-Adams said.
The SDSU chapter of Kappa Sigma and Nu Alpha Kappa declined to comment. Neither the SDSU chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Theta Chi were immediately available for comment.
These interim suspensions come just over a month after three other fraternities — Sigma Phi Epsilon, Delta Upsilon and Phi Kappa Psi — were disciplined in late August.
There is limited information available about the incidents that led to these violations because the investigations into all seven cases are still pending.
In the last two academic years, four of the current fraternities on interim suspension “were found responsible for alleged violations of the Student Organization Code of Conduct,” according to Montero-Adams. Delta Upsilon and Sigma Alpha Epsilon received formal warnings, Phi Kappa Psi went on probation and Sigma Phi Epsilon had a suspension in abeyance.
Montero-Adams said the fraternities have not been placed on a social moratorium, or party ban, at this time. This is unlike in 2018 when the Interfraternity Council imposed a party ban after six of its then 15 chapters were placed on “elevated status,” meaning they were facing either suspensions or probation. The ban was lifted last October.
The latest wave of interim suspensions means six of the IFC’s now 14 chapters are currently on elevated status. Nu Kappa Alpha is not a part of the IFC.
IFC President Steven Plante said these violations are something the council takes very seriously.
“We can’t ever have a tunnel vision mindset,” Plante said. “And a lot of people think that seizing all activity would answer all of our questions, but unfortunately, I truly don’t believe that’s the answer. I don’t believe that just trying to get rid of everything is going to solve our issues. And unfortunately, if we were to do that people would just be more inclined to do their own thing and then they wouldn’t have a governing council like IFC.”
The national chapters of Kappa Sigma, Nu Alpha Kappa and Theta Chi all said they are investigating these cases along with the university. The national chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was not immediately available for comment.
There have been educational and structural changes put in place in Greek life to help change these kinds of behaviors, Montero-Adams said. There are new member symposiums addressing alcohol, drugs, hazing and sexual violence. Additionally, there are required community wellness workshops for various chapters.
“While the organizations may stay the same every year, there’s new groups of students that we’re continuously working to educate within the organizations,” Montero-Adams said. “And so as we have new members come in, we have changed the way the new member education process works. So from our office, we’re facilitating symposiums that address some of the big issues that we see within the organization.”
If anyone has concerns or reports about the Greek community, they are encouraged to fill out the IFC Active Bystander Submission Form. Plante said this helps to take action and handle issues internally with members of the IFC through their judicial hearing process. The form is entirely confidential and only the IFC President and IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs have access to.
“It allows us an opportunity to really hear from the community what’s happening because we’re not out on the streets patrolling every single night,” Plante said. “But we are able to have access to that form, which gives us more insight to what’s happening. And that way we’re able to better adjudicate our chapters independently with IFC.”
Sally Smith • Oct 31, 2019 at 2:39 pm
I have lived in this community for a very long time and have seen the good the Greeks can do in terms of neighborhood cleanups and events that raise money for great charities. However, I have also seen in recent years the outward entitlement many of these young Greeks show about partying without regard for laws, property or their neighbors. One very egregious Greek party house is right next door to an elderly woman who is a breast cancer survivor but in many ways has had to endure greater hardship from her often intoxicated student neighbors. It is a shame….
Steve Adams • Oct 31, 2019 at 2:24 pm
The good isn’t the point. Yes, they should be praised for doing good & they are. The point is that the same bad behavior happens every year. The point is to rectify this bad behavior so more good can happen. I’ve lived near SDSU for many years and I can honestly say that the majority of the students who live near campus (in the houses that were converted to mini dorms) are completely selfish & do good, because they have to and it looks good on beginning resumes, but when they are off campus, they don’t care about fellow neighbors. I’ve seen drunken fights over no good reason, vandalism against strangers property, not to mention the endless noise problems almost every night. These students get warned & continue their bad behavior over & over & over again. They never stop until an actual severe consequence happens. For some reason, they don’t comprehend that an actual consequence will happen until it actually does. I’ve seen this every single school year. There has to be less warnings and more actual consequences, because what’s happening now is not working.
Phil Specre • Oct 23, 2019 at 12:10 pm
I’m not impressed with a fraternities ability to raise money. It doesn’t take that much work. I’d be more impressed with a showing of thousands of hours of community service which includes physical labor.
Yvonne Quilenderino • Oct 23, 2019 at 9:45 am
Greek life does do a lot of good but no matter how much good they do, it does not mean that the bad should be ignored. Yes, they raised money. Awesome. But they also do some truly horrific things to actual 17-21 year old students and that, in my opinion, far outweighs any monetary figure raised for charity.
jc • Oct 23, 2019 at 12:53 am
cranky because your precious frat was reprimanded for alcohol abuse arent you joseph 🙁
Phil Spectre • Oct 22, 2019 at 7:28 am
End Greek Life.
Joseph Simon • Oct 21, 2019 at 11:33 am
I always see posts about the negativity surrounding Greek life. Have you ever even considered or thought about the positives. Did you know phi kappa psi raised over 32k for breast cancer shattering the record for most money raised by any Greek organization in SDSU history? Do you even care or do you get more views from posting about hazing or alcohol allegations?
Bella Ross • Oct 22, 2019 at 6:12 pm
Greek Week raises over $10,000 for foster youth,
Campus fraternities give back with Season of Giving