SAM, U. nearing probation deal

The fraternity was put on porbation as a result of a Jan. 13 incident at a New Jersey bowling alley. Sigma Alpha Mu is finalizing a deal with the University that would result in the fraternity being placed on one semester of social probation for violating Penn's dry rush policy, according to SAM President Michael Kraver. The terms of the settlement would restrict SAM from hosting parties where alcohol is served in the fraternity's on-campus house or any of its off-campus affiliates. SAM brothers violated the policy when they allegedly brought five kegs of beer to a New Jersey bowling alley for a rush event held January 13. Kraver, a College senior, said the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and the SAM national office are finalizing a 30-point agreement which would include mandatory non-alcoholic social programming, alcohol education in conjunction with the Drug and Alcohol Resource Team and increased interaction between undergraduates, alumni and the University administration. Kraver noted that the settlement "will enable us to take a lead in a change of campus culture" by starting "to eliminate the widespread notion that alcohol is necessary to have a good time." Although he stressed that "we are not dry," Kraver added that "a lot of the non-alcoholic social programming that we don't see often enough is now the responsibility of our chapter." Representatives from the Office of Student Conduct, the Vice Provost for University Life, OFSA and SAM reached the proposed settlement Monday in the VPUL office at 5 p.m. Penn's General Counsel's office is reviewing the details of the accord. "The brothers were thoughtful, deliberate and candid in their discussion with us," VPUL Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said. "This agreement will be a model for the Penn Greek system as we move forward." While SAM delivered over 25 bids at the InterFraternity Council's bid night last evening -- one more than last year -- it was not known last night how many rushees would accept the bids. Kraver said he did not expect the settlement to decrease the size of SAM's pledge class. College freshman Chil Woo said that although the brothers told him they "can't have parties at their main house," he still intends to pledge SAM. Noting that SAM has prospective pledges despite "having to cancel [rush] events," Kraver said the rushees who "stuck with our house" are interested for the "right reasons" -- brotherhood, community service and leadership. The fraternity was under investigation this week after it allegedly violated the dry rush policy and stole hundreds of pieces of equipment from the Holly Bowl bowling alley. Bill Little, the alley's manager, said he called the New Jersey state police to the scene when he witnessed over 100 SAM brothers and prospective pledges charging the alley's bowling lanes. The authorities later found the five kegs along with bowling balls, bowling pins and rental shoes when they caught up with SAM buses leaving the bowling alley on State Highway 38. No charges were pressed and no arrests were made, but the fraternity was placed under administrative warning throughout rush and was not allowed to hold any on- or off- campus parties, according to OFSA Director Scott Reikofski. Aaron Girson, a representative from SAM's national chapter in Indiana, was at the University over the weekend to assist with the settlement process. In addition, a number of alumni were involved via e-mail, fax and telephone. Earlier this week, the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority received one month of social probation from OFSA and the Panhellenic Council for rush violations.