Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity appeals suspension, members to remain in house through end of quarter

Sigma+Alpha+Epsilon+fraternity%E2%80%99s+house+on+Northwestern%E2%80%99s+campus.+The+chapter+filed+an+appeal+against+its+suspension+on+Friday%2C+and+members+will+be+able+to+remain+in+the+house+for+the+rest+of+the+quarter.%0A

Daily file photo by Colin Boyle

Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity’s house on Northwestern’s campus. The chapter filed an appeal against its suspension on Friday, and members will be able to remain in the house for the rest of the quarter.

Mariana Alfaro, Print Managing Editor

Northwestern’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity filed an appeal against its suspension Friday, a University official confirmed.

SAE was notified on April 21 of its suspension from campus, and all members living in the house were told they needed to move out by May 6, University spokesman Bob Rowley told The Daily last week. On Friday, however, Rowley said SAE members can now remain in the house until the end of the academic year, pending the appeal process.

“They can stay in the house as long as (the appeal) is going on, through the end of the quarter,” Rowley said. “But it’s important (to note) that it is depending on them complying with the conditions of the probation and the standards of the University.”

The appeal, Rowley said, will be handled by Northwestern’s Student Affairs.

SAE was suspended after a University investigation found that the chapter had “knowingly violated” its disciplinary probation by “repeatedly hosting parties and providing alcohol to minors,” Rowley told The Daily last week. The University notified the fraternity last week that the suspension would run until September 2018, Rowley said.

The chapter had been placed on probation following a conduct investigation in fall 2016, Rowley said. The disciplinary probation was set to run out at the end of 2017, he said.

Manos Proussaloglou, Northwestern’s SAE president, could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday. SAE national spokesman Brandon Weghorst did not respond to a request for comment.

SAE’s suspension came after another, separate investigation into the chapter earlier this year. In February, the University announced in an email alert to students that the Sexual Harassment Prevention Office had received an anonymous report that four female students had been possibly given a date rape drug at the SAE house on Jan. 21. The report said two of the students believed they were sexually assaulted.

The fraternity’s national organization issued a “cease-and-desist order” to Northwestern’s chapter later in February, and Weghorst said in early April that the national organization was investigating the Northwestern chapter.

In late March, vice president for student affairs Patricia Telles-Irvin announced that no disciplinary action would be taken against the chapter, and that the University had concluded its review of the reports. In an email to students, Telles-Irvin said NU had begun a separate investigation into the University’s SAE chapter for potential violations of the Student Code of Conduct, which were revealed during the Title IX investigation.

Rowley said last week that the conduct investigation into SAE and the decision to suspend the chapter from campus were unrelated to the allegations of druggings and sexual assault reported earlier this year.

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