U. places AEPi on pledge probation

A questionable incident last semester caused the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity to be put on pledge probation for two years, fraternity officials confirmed yesterday. College sophomore and fraternity brother Brian Werfel verified claims that the disciplinary action resulted from a hamburger-eating contest, in which a brother sought medical assistance for stomach problems. While the incident did occur during the pledge process, it did not involve a pledge. Alpha Epsilon Pi President and College junior Gregg Adelman disputed these allegations, but would not comment on the specifics of any rumored incidents. "The problems between us and the University come as a result of questionable or borderline pledging practices," he said. "The agreement with the University did not come about as a result of any individual seeking medical attention or assistance." Adelman said though that the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs investigated the fraternity in the spring for an incident which landed a fraternity member in the hospital. After looking into that instance of alleged hazing, the University dropped its investigation. Adelman said the pledge probation does not change any of the activities of the fraternity, although it does mean that fraternity-sponsored events will be monitored more closely by the University and the national chapter. "It doesn't affect social life, it doesn't affect academic life, it doesn't affect philanthropy," Adelman said. "It doesn't affect rush or pledging at all. All it does is make sure nothing goes wrong in the future." Adelman said the agreement puts the fraternity under "a watchful eye," but added that he does not view this as any sort of handicap. "All it does is strengthen us," he said. "It keeps us in line to make sure nothing happens in the future that could be used against us." Adelman refused to corroborate Werfel's account of the eating contest, but he did say that the fraternity and the University were worried that the event "could get out of hand." "In my opinion, there's no reason to elaborate," he said. "There's no point in me going over whatever happened, because it doesn't matter." Werfel said the incident in no way related to hazing, and said that the student involved is still a member of the fraternity. "It was not a hazing event and he merely had a stomach ache," he added. Adelman denied that the incident was in any way alcohol-related. "If it involved anything close to that, we would have been given the big boot," he said. OFSA Director Tricia Phaup refused to go over any specifics of the University's agreement with the fraternity. "We have reached an agreement with the fraternity," she said. "I can't give any details." Alpha Epsilon Pi national representative Sid Dunn, speaking from his office in Indianapolis, said that the national fraternity will play a role in enforcing a favorable profile of the campus chapter. "We appreciate the cooperation of the University and the local chapter," he added. "We believe we have identified problems in our pledge program, and we are doing our best to solve these problems and let the chapter operate within the rules of the University as well as the national fraternity. "We agreed with the University on the probationary status and monitoring the group during its pledge period," he added. Dunn said that this process should maintain "a positive pledge program in conformance with our rules and with the University's rules." Interfraternity Council President Hayden Horowitz said he is unaware of any of the details of the investigation other than that he believes it began sometime after spring break. Horowitz emphasized that the matter is strictly between the fraternity and the University administration along with the national chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi, and that the IFC is not involved in the disciplinary process.