Furman fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon suspended
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEB. 4, 2015
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, which has operated at Furman University for 147 years, has been suspended by the chapter's national organization due to hazing, an official with the national fraternity told The Greenville News.
The SAE Supreme Council made the decision to suspend the local fraternity, SC Phi Chapter, from all activities until at least the fall of 2017, according to an email sent to Furman students by Connie Carson, vice president for student life.
"Student life was notified last week through a credible report and subsequently confirmed through an internal investigation that the fraternity had engaged in behaviors that put the health of our students at risk," Carson said.
Many members of the Furman chapter violated the fraternity's health and safety standards and all members of the fraternity have been suspended from the fraternity until they graduate, said Brandon Weghorst, spokesman for the SAE national organization.
"Many of South Carolina Phi's brothers violated health-and-safety policies, which includes allegations of hazing through forced alcohol consumption during bid-night activities," Weghorst said. "Those members' actions are completely unacceptable and have no place in our fraternity."
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The incident followed a "prolonged period of probationary actions spanning several years," Carson said.
"SAE has continued to disregard policies, procedures and standards of behavior required on our campus and by their national headquarters," Carson said.
The local chapter violated a university-imposed sanction that followed a review by university alumni and staff this past fall after previous violations, Weghorst said.
"The men were given multiple opportunities to resolve their infractions on several occasions, but we regret they failed to work through these issues after repeated attempts to assist them," he said.
"In today's world, nothing is secretive and we are closely monitoring the activities of all our chapters," said Brad Cohen, SAE's national president in a statement. "Those chapters that don't follow our strict policies and don't create a safe and harmonious environment for all members will be dealt with and, if necessary, closed as we have done at Furman."
The national office said it felt a period of closure was necessary to stop the pattern of behavior and allow the chapter to operate at Furman again in the future.
The investigation into the incident has been completed, said Furman spokesman Vince Moore.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded 159 years ago and the Furman chapter is one of the oldest in the national organization, Weghorst said.
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