AEPi handed an extra year of probation by U., natl. office

The Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity will be dry and on probation for an additional year and has replaced its executive board following a visit by the AEPi national fraternity last week, according to Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski. "Every AEPi brother was interviewed and his status with the chapter reconsidered," Reikofski said yesterday. In November, the fraternity was forced to go dry for the next two years because of its role in September's non-fatal alcohol poisoning of a female freshman who had at least 12 drinks at an AEPi hotel party. Reikofski said that if the chapter does not make sufficient progress in building a "new and improved AEPi chapter" by the end of the fall semester, there is "a good possibility" that the national will suspend the Penn fraternity, located at 3940 Spruce Street. The University and the national fraternity, which had been investigating the chapter for missed deadlines and "non-compliance" with its agreement after the September incident, are now selecting a live-in graduate advisor for the 1999-2000 academic year. According to Reikofski, the initial goals of the new executive board will be to establish new deadlines and redefine tasks within the agreement. The national fraternity was first on campus March 25 to investigate possible violations and to start creating a course of action in cooperation with OFSA, culminating with last Tuesday's interviews by AEPi International Risk Management Director Scott Cohon. "I think that our consultation and mutual support? though a slow process produced a strong foundation [for a new chapter]," Reikofski said. Several AEPi brothers did not return phone calls last night. The fraternity is one of several that has faced penalties or suspensions this semester. The Phi Gamma Delta fraternity forfeited its charter after violation of risk management and alcohol policies prior to the death of 26-year-old alumnus Michael Tobin last month. And the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity is still under investigation by its national headquarters and the University for allegedly violating the University's anti-hazing policy and the disciplinary agreement that followed the chapter's violation of the InterFraternity Council's dry rush policy at a New Jersey bowling alley.