UW suspends fraternity after whistle-blower is taunted

[hoosier]

January 31, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

UW suspends fraternity after whistle-blower is taunted

By Sharon Pian Chan
Seattle Times staff reporter

Search archiveThe University of Washington suspended recognition of Alpha Sigma Phi last week after its members retaliated against a student who had reported the fraternity to the university for hazing.

His report last year had caused the student-affairs office to put the fraternity on probation. The reported hazing included forced consumption of alcohol, forced consumption of food rubbed on a body part, forced simulation of a sex act on a blow-up doll and physical abuse with paddles.

Later, in September, two members of Alpha Sigma Phi retaliated by taunting the whistle-blower at a Husky football game while about 20 fraternity members looked on, UW officials said.

When Ernest Morris, the vice president of student affairs, learned of the taunting, he suspended the university's recognition of Alpha Sigma Phi until September of this year. Alpha Sigma Phi appealed Morris' decision to a panel, which came up with an alternate option of shortening the suspension to end on March 19 but adding other sanctions.

Under the suspension, the university will deny the fraternity access to its members' grade reports and information about incoming first-year students that fraternities use to recruit new members.

Alpha Sigma Phi must adopt a policy to prevent retaliatory acts and an appropriate remedy for dealing with one of the two members who taunted the student. The other member involved has left the fraternity.

The fraternity will also have to hold three chapter retreats to discuss the retaliation and develop a plan to prevent future incidents.

"We dealt with the group as a whole because by not stopping verbal intimidation they in fact condoned it and tacitly supported the actions," said Sarah Carlson, the assistant to the vice president of student affairs who oversees Greek relations. "Therefore, the group is responsible."

When the suspension ends March 19, Alpha Sigma Phi can apply for reinstatement. If it is granted, the fraternity will remain on probation until the end of September next year.

Alpha Sigma Phi members declined to comment.

Carlson said it is the only suspension the office has issued in the past two years. The student office keeps confidential the identities of students reporting violations, but in this case the fraternity figured out who had reported the hazing, she said.