Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity revokes WVU Beta Chapter’s charter

Dominion Post (Morgantown, WV)

Oct. 16--The national board of directors of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity has revoked the charter of the West Virginia Beta Chapter at WVU for repeated violations of fraternity and WVU alcohol and risk management policies, the national organization said in a recent announcement.

SigEp national is allowing the Beta Chapter members to remain in the house on High Street through fall semester, but requiring them to find other housing after that, WVU said in a subsequent statement.

SigEp said its board made the decision with the support of West Virginia Beta Alumni and Volunteer Corporation and in partnership with WVU.

"In the last 18 months, time and time again, the West Virginia Beta Chapter has violated the law and fraternity and university policies, bringing both member and guest safety into question, " SigEp said. "Since January 2018, these violations led the fraternity to cease operations multiple times to ensure safety, investigate the concerns, take action and provide support to facilitate cultural change in the chapter."

SigEp listed seven occasions where it stepped in to deal with issues at Beta Chapter.

Among them, during the 2017-2018 academic year, SigEp said, the chapter incurred multiple police reports for violations during social events and was found to be operating a slush fund to finance events. These concerns were addressed with the chapter by Headquarters staff and volunteers.

In January 2019, members were found to be drinking during a ritual service after the chapter tried to mislead staff that the service was not taking place, SigEp said. Headquarters staff and alumni worked with the standards board to hold the members accountable.

In August, police raided a keg party staged in the house parking lot. Staff and volunteers "made it clear that any future violation would result in a recommendation to the National Board of Directors for closure."

But less than a month later, while on a cease of operations stemming from the August party, the chapter hosted a party, SigEp said. Members brought guests and dates into the house. Members told guests that they would need to split and finish a bottle of liquor before they could leave.

Two 18-year-old female guests got drunk.One of their friends called 911 and they were taken ot the hospital.

"Due to the concern for the safety and well-being of members and guests, the pattern of violations outlined, and the chapter's unwillingness to implement cultural change, SigEp's National Board of Directors unanimously determined to withdraw the West Virginia Beta charter."

Beta Chapter could not be reached for comment, but the former brothers maintained their innocence in a Twitter post. "We have been a model chapter in our community, " participating in various beneficial events. "In spite of our exceptional record, we have been met with nothing but disdain and mistreatment at the hands of national headquarters."

National's new substance-free facility bylaw made insurance costs and membership dues skyrockets, the members said, and made it nearly impossible to be sustainable as a social fraternity.

They take a different view of the final party. When the two women showed signs of intoxication, brothers immediately called 911, taking the morally best action in the situation. "We have now found ourselves being evicted from our house ... for doing what any morally conscious human being would do."

SigEp CEO Brian Warren said, "When the cultural issues within a chapter conflict with our values and are too deeply rooted to change, SigEp will act responsibly to ensure the safety of students and other members of the campus community.

"Over the past three years, " he said, "SigEp staff members have visited West Virginia Beta 18 times and spent more than 48 days in Morgantown to support the chapter in developing positive culture, recruiting quality men and implementing the Balanced Man Program. ... The current West Virginia Beta undergraduates have squandered this assistance and their opportunities. They have shown that they care more about being a Morgantown drinking club than they do about SigEp's mission and developing balanced men.

That is simply not the experience we seek to provide."

SigEp has 210 chapters (excluding Beta, which has already been removed from its online map) with 13, 178 members and 332, 836 lifetime members.

Following SigEp's revocation, WVU announced that it also revoked the chapter's status as a recognized student organization.

"Failure of the chapter to comply with the direction of headquarters, alumni leaders, and /or staff of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life may result in further disciplinary proceedings, " WVU said.

"West Virginia University joins the national office in wishing this had not been necessary, but the chapter's continued violations of fraternity and university policies and procedures left no choice. Student safety is of paramount importance."

WVU said it will assist any evicted students who need help finding new housing.

SigEp said it hopes to be able to re-establish a chapter in the future. WVU said, "When or if that happens, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will assist in any way possible."

Tweet David Beard @dbeardtdp Email dbeard @dominionpost.com

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