Crystal Luong
Assistant News Editor
The end of the line has come for ousted fraternity, Sigma Nu. The chapter’s appeal to reverse its deactivation last semester has been rejected on grounds that the group did not indicate a willingness to make long-term changes after repeated violations of Pepperdine policies, according to campus officials.
“There was a pattern of incidents that set the chapter and University up for liabilities,” said Chris Van Velzer, student organizations coordinator.
In their written appeal, Sigma Nu leaders argued the Student Organizations Judicial Board’s original sanction in late March was unfair.
“We appealed that the punishment didn’t fit the crime,” said senior Frankie Masterson, former president of Sigma Nu. “We had a lot of great points, and alumni and national really backed us. I thought we had a chance.”
The fraternity presented an alternative plan to deactivation that proposed more community service and restraints from holding formals and social events, according to Masterson.
Tabatha Jones, associate dean of students, reviewed the appeal in early May but upheld the board’s decision. She acknowledged that Sigma Nu members were cooperative and respectful in the process.
“The University’s decision was based on a series of events that constituted the fraternity’s violations to the University’s alcohol policy,” Jones said.
“At the time of the fraternity’s final violation, while the fraternity was already on probation for other hazing and alcohol-related incidents, the University believed that the fraternity used poor judgment in hosting an off-campus party that further constituted fundamental disregard for the University’s position.”
Two incidents placed the fraternity on probation in December, which was to last until the end of this fall. Pledging activities Oct. 1 prompted by an alumni member “caused damage or temporary loss to the La Salsa restaurant and two Malibu residents,” and the presence of alcohol at an off-campus party two weeks later, according to a memo issued by Doug Hurley, student activities director.
Two more violations prompted Sigma Nu’s termination: the fraternity’s “Key in the Fifth” party Feb. 7, which led to an accusation of sexual assault by a female Pepperdine student, and a formal in mid-November where members caused “significant damage” to the Miramonte Resort.
The fraternity was not deactivated because of the sexual assault allegation, however, and ensuing investigations conducted by Public Safety have been independent from administrative decisions, Van Velzer said.
The Department of Public Safety was not available for comment.
Although the 53-member fraternity no longer will be recognized as an official Pepperdine student organization, Masterson said the bonds of brotherhood remain.
“We’re taking steps to change the outlook of us as party animals and kids with out-of-control social lives,” Masterson said. “This demonstrates our will to stick together.”
Sigma Nu was granted a charter at Pepperdine in July 1996. Under the Greek system’s policies, its members are not eligible to pledge other fraternities, but they still will belong to the national Sigma Nu organization.
University policy states the chapter must wait a minimum of four years to recolonize, after all present members have graduated.
08-30-2004