Acacia is put on probation for two years in photo case

The University has placed the Acacia fraternity under two years probation and alcohol prohibition after finding it collectively responsible for sexual harassment, the complaintant in the case said yesterday. College junior Judy Schlossberg filed a complaint with the Judicial Inquiry Office in April charging fraternity members with stealing and distributing a nude photograph of herself that had been stored in her boyfriend's room. In November, Acacia was found to be collectively responsible for sexual harassment. Schlossberg said yesterday the fraternity had agreed to accept the sanctions. Acacia will be prohibited from having alcohol at any of its parties for the next two years and will have to undergo a membership review by an alumni advisory board, she added. The fraternity's members will also participate in "educational programming." Acacia President Brian Baxt did not return phone calls placed at his home last night. Tricia Phaup, director of Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, did not return phone messages placed this week at her office. But Schlossberg said she was "upset" that the charges were not more stringent. "Most of the [educational programming] they take part in whether or not they have been sanctioned," Schlossberg said. "They have taken part in them in the past -- a lot of good they seeem to have done." She said the programming would probably include sensitivity workshops and Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape programs. Last week Schlossberg said four individuals were also charged, including then-President Baxt and its former rush officer. Schlossberg identified Baxt, former Rush Officer Maamoun Rajeh and brothers Mark Olivero and Chris Wilkes as the four individuals who have accepted the JIO's findings that they sexually harassed Schlossberg. Baxt, Rajeh and Olivero also accepted JIO findings of theft, trespassing, and acts of retaliation, Schlossberg said. Schlossberg said Baxt, Rajeh, and Olivero will be fined, will have to undergo psychiatric evaluation, attend an "educational program," and be put under suspended suspension -- under which they will be immediately suspended if they fail to comply with their settlement.

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