TEP probe centers on 2 incidents

Judicial Inquiry Officer Constance Goodman is investigating the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity for two separate University policy violations, the JIO said Monday night. Goodman said yesterday she is investigating an incident which occurred in February and one which occurred in March, adding that she has not yet determined if the fraternity is collectively responsible for the violations. She said she is still interviewing individuals possibly involved in the incidents. "I hope to bring it [the investigation] to closure soon," Goodman said. David Lazar, the president of the University's TEP alumni organization and head of the national fraternity's investigation, said yesterday he is also investigating two incidents which concern "violations of the University guidelines for conduct." Jonathan Seidel, national executive director of TEP, said last week that TEP national is investigating four alleged violations of national fraternity policy. Lazar said the violations are "the kind of things I think that every group, not just fraternities, has at one time or another experienced." But he added that this "doesn't in any way minimize the gravity of the situation or the guilt or innocence of the fraternity." TEP has been temporarily suspended from holding any activities pending the completion of the national organization's and the JIO's probes. Executive Director Seidel said Monday he would not comment on the process or content of the national organization's investigation. He said the national organization will be releasing a full report of its findings to the University when it finishes its investigation, and Lazar said he will make the findings public when the interviews and probe are completed. Both Lazar and Seidel added there is no deadline for the completion of their investigation. Local alumni, who are also members of the national alumni board, and Seidel met with the old and new executive boards of the University's TEP chapter and with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Thursday, Lazar said. Lazar said he and the other TEP representatives told OFSA that the alumni and national organization are "concerned about the violations and want to work with OFSA and the [University] chapter in order to address the violations and do what we can to improve the situation." He said OFSA and TEP representatives also discussed "what the investigatory process wil be like and how we can help them." Seidel said he sees no conflict of interest in the arrangement allowing alumni from the University chapter to investigate their old chapter. (CUT LINE) Please see TEP, page 7 TEP, from page 1

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