Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity will return to campus this fall after completing a one-year suspension.

The fraternity was suspended by the University in April 2017 for violating a probation that had been in place in fall 2016. Though they remain on probation, 17 of SAE’s roughly 40 members will return to the chapter.

In winter 2017, the chapter was investigated by the University after the Sexual Harassment Prevention Office received a report that four female students had potentially been given a date rape drug at the SAE house in January 2017. The report, which prompted Northwestern’s Chief of Police to send an alert to students, also alleged two students believed they had been sexually assaulted.

The University did not take disciplinary against the chapter as a result of the investigation into the sexual assault allegations, but it did prompt the University to take a further look into the chapter.

SAE, whose national headquarters are located in Evanston, was suspended from Northwestern’s campus in April 2017. Interfraternity Council announced in October 2017 it would not recognize SAE until 2021, saying the chapter violated its suspension by recruiting new members and engaging in actions that “continued to make the Northwestern community less and less safe.”

In a Tuesday news release, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life said SAE headquarters conducted a membership review and selected 17 undergraduate members to return, 13 of whom will live in the SAE house. The chapter will have a full-time live-in house director.

The fraternity will remain on alcohol and disciplinary probation.

Cameron Cook contributed reporting.

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