Cases vs. two frats resolved

The Judicial Inquiry Office has handed down two judgements on past incidents relating to fraternities, JIO Catherine Schifter said last night. Schifter's office found that the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity was not at fault for an incident which occurred in late January during which a naked man was tied to a gate in front of the fraternity's house at 3908 Spruce Street. "We determined that it was not anything to deal with," Schifter said. "It was not a hazing incident, [and] they did not break any rules." Five female College freshmen, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said in February that the naked man was tied and covered in "some kind of liquid," which was speculated to be ketchup, chocolate syrup, grease or paint. Schifter said that since no one formally came forward as a complaintant in the case, there was not sufficient cause to investigate the incident. SAE President Will McAlexander said last night that his fraternity knew that it did not "violate any rules." "We're not shocked [at the decision]," the Engineering junior said. "It's what we expected." In a separate incident, an unnamed student was found responsible for an incident involving an illegal substance in the Zeta Psi fraternity house at 3337 Walnut Street, Schifter said. The incident allegedly occurred over winter break. Schifter said in February that "something did happen in the house over break [and] it had to do with an illegal substance," but she would not say what the substance was. University Police Sergeant Thomas Messner had also confirmed that an incident occurred at the house involving a suspected controlled substance. Schifter said last night that the student has agreed to several mandatory "stipulations," but that her office's main concern was to get professional help for the student. "We found the young man [who was] responsible, and he is in the process of getting help," she said. "At the moment he is dealing with his substance abuse issue." Zeta Psi President and Wharton senior Grant Rippetoe declined to comment last night on the JIO's decision.

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