Sigma Phi Epsilon is facing potentially strict judicial punishment for a number of incidents over the past several years.

According to documents acquired by the Northern Star from NIU Judicial Affairs via a Freedom of Information Act request, the fraternity’s violations include underage alcohol consumption, racially motivated harassment of another fraternity and several violent incidents, among other infractions.

A hearing to determine what action will be taken against the fraternity is scheduled to occur this week.
NIU is no longer considering a 10-year suspension of the fraternity, said Mike Orescanin, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon’s NIU chapter.

“We know that our fraternity is not the first organization of students dealing with challenges associated with alcohol, fighting or alleged racism,” Orescanin said. “What concerns us now is whether Judicial Affairs is conducting its business impartially and with the best interests of students and student organizations in mind. If the process is fair, the outcome will be fair.”

NIU Judicial Affairs director Larry Bolles, in correspondence obtained between he and Craig Templeton of the Sigma Phi Epsilon national office, recommended the fraternity’s NIU chapter be shut down.

“Recent actions taken by ... Sigma Phi Epsilon have created a dangerous environment for the NIU Greek System as well as the NIU community as a whole. The Chapter’s actions pose a clear and present danger causing concern for the safety and welfare of our students,” Bolles said in the letter. “Those incidents, combined with past incidents, have led to the conclusion that the NIU chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon must be closed down. The environment created by their most recent actions is dangerous to the safety and welfare of those who reside on Greek Row.”

Racial tension

According to the correspondence between Bolles and Templeton, Sigma Phi Epsilon, (“Sig Eps”) on Aug. 26,, 2007, held a social event in violation of Greek Affairs and Intrafraternity Council (IFC) regulations. As a result of the violations, the IFC restricted the fraternity’s ability to hold social and recruiting events. Sigma Alpha Mu (“Sammies”) was the complainant in the incident, as its house is located close to the Sig Eps house, according to the letter.

After the Sammies reported the incident, Sig Eps retaliated by, on several occasions, harassing Sammies members with racial slurs, Bolles said in the letter. The incidents led to “increased tensions among the chapters on Greek Row,” and “created an atmosphere that is no way conducive to the Greek lifestyle and has created the potential for violence,” Bolles said.

Orescanin said NIU has failed to clarify the accusations brought upon Sig Eps in relation to its confrontations with the Sammies.

“We’ve asked for clarification as to what specifically the university believes occurred that led to the charges, and have not received a response,” Orescanin said. “A scuffle that broke out one evening that involved African-American individuals appears to be part of the charges, but we are not sure. There’s no evidence that the scuffle was racially motivated, and no one was charged with a crime or arrested on that night.”

Sig Eps does not harbor any racial biases, Orescanin said.

“Even though the charges are based on hearsay and inconclusive information, at no point during this entire process has Sigma Phi Epsilon condoned the alleged actions of its members,” he said. “Rather, we have taken the approach that the mere existence of allegations of misconduct warranted substantial intervention.”

Underage drinking

On April 21, 2007, one month after a deferred suspension, Sigma Phi Epsilon was issued citations for allowing underage alcohol consumption to occur at its house, Bolles said in the letter. Four individuals were cited for underage consumption that evening, all of whom stated they were drinking at the Sig Eps house.

“We understand this is a problem, and addressing it is part of the membership review and reorganization,” Orescanin said.

Underage consumption is a widespread problem that can’t be solved by shutting down Greek houses, Orescanin said.

“Harsh sanctions that wipe organizations off campus will not eliminate the problem,” he said. “Underage drinking is common across the campus, within and outside of the Greek community. Preventing it is a challenge, especially for a large fraternity. We can and will do better.”

Security force confrontations

According to the correspondence between Bolles and Templeton, a Sig Eps member threw beer bottles at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house on April 26, 2007. When the chapter was confronted by Greek Row security, the security officers were treated disrespectfully by Sig Eps members, which security workers state has been a recurring problem with the fraternity. Sig Eps members reportedly would tell security workers “you work for us” and “you don’t tell us what to do,” Bolles said in the letter.

Orescanin said the actions of a few do not reflect the Sig Eps as a whole in regard to Greek security.

“No doubt there have been some disagreements, and the late-night encounters with Greek Row security are not always conducive to cooperative problem-solving,” he said. “When these situations arise, we address them by disciplining members who are disrespectful, and trying to repair our relationships with our Greek peers.

“It’s important to remember that leaders of Greek houses may wish to challenge the interpretations of other Greeks who are enforcing rules. Sometimes this advocacy is thought to be disrespectful, but it’s sometimes necessary to protect the house from sanctions that can have serious effects on the health of the organization.”

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