Frat loses charter for rush violation

Sigma Alpha Mu cannot return to campus until the spring of 2001. After violating dry rush policies last month by serving alcohol at an event, the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity has lost its charter and has been suspended by the University for at least a year, officials announced yesterday. SAM's suspension comes as a punishment for serving alcohol at a January 21 rush event, disobeying InterFraternity Council rush rules and breaking the conditions of the fraternity's current social probation. The fraternity was on probation for violating dry rush and anti-hazing policies a year ago. The suspension will take effect April 9 and will last until the end of the calendar year, but the brothers will be allowed to continue to live in their house -- located at 3817 Walnut Street -- under the supervision of a live-in monitor. The 22 current pledges will be initiated on April 9. "The Chapter is prohibited from holding meetings or participating in, hosting, or sponsoring campus functions, using the name of Sigma Alpha Mu, the Greek letters, nicknames or other insignia, or otherwise functioning as a chapter," said a statement released yesterday by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. The fraternity may be allowed to recolonize in the spring of 2001 if the brothers meet the stringent conditions of their agreement with the University -- which include becoming permanently dry, completing a series of alcohol and risk management classes and doing community service. SAM National Executive Director Aaron Girson did not return repeated phone calls, nor did SAM President Jared Hendricks. Also as part of their punishment, the brothers agreed to place an advertisement in today's Daily Pennsylvanian acknowledging their violations and vowing to improve their conduct in the future. "The current membership of SAM is determined to prove that January's violation was an aberration and that the strides we have made for positive change in the Chapter and on campus will now continue uninterrupted," the brothers wrote in the ad. If the fraternity does recolonize a year from now, it will have to petition its national organization to regain its charter. And the brothers will never again be allowed to bring alcohol into their house, according to OFSA's statement. "The Chapter has agreed to become alcohol-free on a permanent basis, effective immediately," the statement said. If SAM is permitted to recolonize, the brothers will also be required to work on anti-alcohol abuse initiatives, according to OFSA's statement. "Working closely with the IFC, they will assume a leadership role in forming a task force to explore alternatives to alcohol at rush events." The suspension comes about a year after the brothers were disciplined for previous alcohol-related violations. The fraternity was placed on a one-year social probation and a two-year probation after two incidents last spring, the first being a rush event at a New Jersey bowling alley where the brothers brought five kegs and stole or damaged hundreds of bowling balls, pins and shoes. SAM was forced to reorganize in the fall and placed the 40 junior and senior brothers on alumni status, leaving just 21 active members. An IFC statement said the organization is happy with the way the situation was resolved. "We are glad that the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and the University were able to work out an agreement that is acceptable to both parties," the statement said. "We look forward to having SAM play an active role in the Greek system in the future."

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