Sig Ep faces ban for up to five years
Posted February 28, 2013 at 11:03 pm in Featured, News
The National Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity officially banned the Sigma Phi Epsilon California Beta Chapter on Thursday afternoon after reports that the chapter violated the university’s sexual misconduct policies in its house on The Row.
The fraternity received an email from the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Board of Directors grand president Bert J. Harris III informing them of the decision. According to the president of Sigma Phi Epsilon California Beta Chapter Peter Hess, the chapter will be allowed to return to The Row after a minimum of five years.
Ousted · Fraternities are currently bidding on Sigma Phi Epsilon California Beta Chapter’s house, which is located on 700 West 28th Street. — Lauren Wong | Daily Trojan
According to the Vice President of Student Affairs Michael Jackson, the suspension of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity went into effect Jan. 31.
“This action was taken based on a review of reports that the university’s sexual misconduct policies had been violated,” Jackson said in a statement to the Daily Trojan. “The university takes any report of sexual misconduct extremely seriously.”
The names of the students involved were not released because of privacy laws and both the university and the fraternity chapter refused to comment on the specific nature of the violation.
The Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards committee began the trial against SigEp in November after an individual reported that a crime occurred on Nov. 17 in one of the rooms of the fraternity.
Hess said that once notified by SJACS, the fraternity conducted an internal investigation. The investigation resulted in a member being expelled from the house.
“We felt like the member was withholding information,” Hess said. “We also expelled the member to show SJACS that we were not trying to hide anything. But they didn’t see it that way.”
Hess believes the alleged incident is not a reflection on the fraternity.
“What occurred in the room was an isolated incident,” Hess said. “It was the fault of the person in the room and not the chapter as a whole.”
The trial against the fraternity has been ongoing since November and the final decision from SJACS came on Thursday. Because the Cal Beta chapter is no longer officially recognized as a student organization, the members of the fraternity are unable to appeal the decision.
Hess informed members of the ban through email and in meetings on Thursday.
The house on The Row is owned by the national organization. Jackson said in a statement to the Daily Trojan that the fraternity letters on the front of the chapter house will be removed and it will function as a boarding house for the current residents until the end of the academic year.
Currently other fraternities on The Row are putting up bids for the house. The highest bidder will receive the rights to move into the house. After the ban, the new group of SigEp members will be able to reenter the house.
The decision to ban the fraternity will have effects on the other fraternities and sororities on The Row.
“The loss of USC and national recognition means no other recognized fraternities or sororities may socialize or interact with this former USC fraternity,” Jackson said in a statement to the Daily Trojan.
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I wonder if allegations of bad conduct, impropriety, and corruption will be raised and addressed at Conclave. The one in Rome is just about to begin.
Administrators and fraternity officials don’t come to these decisions easily. Despite support from the fraternity’s volunteers and staff, and campus officials, this chapter wasn’t willing or capable of providing a safe and positive experience for its members or guests.
Mr. Steele,
When will the property be sold? Are you planning an auction? Will you consider offers now?
We are prepared to make an all cash offer with a limited escrow period.
Thanks for your consideration!
It is always sad when a chapter closes but no one should be surprised in this case. This chapter was given all the tools to succeed but refused to use them. From reports and reputation this was a party club for rich frat boys who thought themselves above the rules. They shouldn’t be allowed to wear the same letters or call themselves brothers of the fraternity men who are living the ritual and the cardinal virtues of the most valued partner in higher education today. The chapter at SDSU dominates campus and is recognized by national for its excellence. The chapter at UCI is growing, and is competitive in intramurals and musical theater. UCR shows manpower and leadership growth. Northridge and San Bernardino each excel in academics, philanthropy, and chapter operations.
How many Buchanan Cups has USC won?
Best “Animal House” on campus doesn’t count.
While the membership of the USC frat boys is suspended now, they can become fully-fledged members of Sigma Phi Epsilon after they graduate. But to get there, the suspended members will need to abide by the regulations, which involves learning good behavior and not feeding cultural issues and bad actions that got them into hot water in the first place. As recognized alumni they can enjoy all of the benefits of membership, including going to regional events; enrolling in courses on leadership and volunteerism; earning higher levels of membership status through donations to the Educational Foundation and use an affinity credit card; and the ability to purchase approved jewelry, sportswear and other co-branded fitness gear from licensed distributors.
You sound like one of those predators from Sig Ep national. I guess you never got the reach around from the SC boys like the other schools. Well, they paid the price for that.
Can’t wait for that credit card!
BTW: You have one the best porn names out there
When the chapter at George Washington University got its charter under the Balanced Man Program, all the brothers got free tickets to a Manilow concert!
Brilliant, that way the national predators could enjoy the show!
To someone a few posts above: no need to get your undies in a bundle about lower tier houses (the taxi…how clever!) leaving slanderous vitriol in this comment thread. While such Row drama makes for a captivating/hilarious read, I can assure you we give exactly zero craps about stirring the pot further. Peace!
disgusting that you could ask that question. absolutely disgusting.
Trash house. I do not doubt the veracity of the sexual conduct reports one bit. I always warned my girl friends to avoid both Sig Ep and their tropically named next door neighbor. Creepy dudes.
Seems to be a lot of alleged “top tier” fraternities posting on these comment sections. I am beginning to suspect you’re all actually from the taxi.
I’m a real top tier frat bro. I can’t speak for the lower tier guys.
Glad to see another dirty frat removed from USC.
Let the hating begin!
Its FIJI not FIGI you BIRD
They are so insignificant on the row proper spelling doesn’t matter. For my first three years, I thought it was a halfway house for gay teens
FIGI came back but they have sucked ever since
SMH. As an alum of USC and SPE it saddens me to hear my fraternity has been kicked off the row. When I was in school, “FIGI” was kicked out. I don’t know if they ever came back.
There is nothing about this article that should ever be considered “lazy”. This was not meant to be an opinion piece, as any insinuation that the punishment was in either way fair or unfair would jeopardize credibility for all involved. Everything stated in the article is fact, and anyone trying to discredit the journalism work here is simply bitter about their fraternity being shut down. I applaud Ms. Holman and the DT for their work.
The agenda here so transparent. You should be ashamed!