Members of the University of Iowa Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity may have a chance to appeal their expulsion.
Students who were not involved in hazing or any risk-involvement activities have 30 days to appeal their expulsion, Brandon Weghorst, the national organization’s associate executive director of communications, said. The new or potential members are free to associate with another fraternity.
Following a four-week investigation over hazing violations and other misconduct, roughly 60 members of the fraternity were expelled, and the chapter is suspended from the UI Interfraternity Council. Members of the fraternity have approximately two weeks to find additional living arrangements.
And the national headquarters won’t take part in the placement of former students following their dismissal from the Iowa Beta chapter.
Weghorst said the group will help students find resources to locate other housing options, but are not responsible for housing placements.
“The bigger issue is the time spent trying to close the chapter and working through the standard process when we pull the chapter,” he said.
Even though the national organization made the decision to close the chapter, the fraternity has a lease with a private landlord and therefore the national organization does not control the lease, Weghorst said.
The national level’s involvement includes processing the paperwork to remove roughly 60 members.
“Both national staff and local volunteers will work with university administrators and the house corporation during this transition to close the chapter,” said a national statement released by the fraternity.
In 2008 and 2009, Sigma Alpha Epsilon faced hazing violations and sanctions.
The last fraternity to be suspended from campus was Delta Upsilon in 2008, following charges against four fraternity brothers regarding felony and misdemeanor drug offenses.
Monetarily, the national headquarters will only face the costs to close the chapter.
While members currently face expulsion from the chapter, this doesn’t necessarily signify the end of their fraternity involvement.
The fraternity hopes to return to the UI’s campus eventually.
“We view the relationship with the University of Iowa as a partnership, and we hope to return to the campus in the future,” the national statement said.
Iowa City police Sgt. Denise Brotherton said in an email Iowa City police officials received a report on Sept. 11 of a sexual assault at the fraternity’s address, 302 Ridgeland Ave., but no charges have been filed. The alleged victim is a white female, and the case is under investigation, however she was unable to confirm if the hazing or misconduct charges were related.
