2008 Woodie Awards
MU fraternities receive sanctions
IFC punishes Sammy, Phi Kappa Psi for giving alcohol to underage students
Caitlin Varley
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Campus
Two fraternities at Miami University, Sigma Alpha Mu and Phi Kappa Psi, have been punished by the Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution for violating the Code of Student Conduct, Section 105B.
Both fraternities were reported to have provided alcohol to minors early this semester at their houses off campus. The office of ethics and Student Conflict Resolution has imposed a sanction on these fraternities, requiring their members to complete an alcohol education course with 80 percent of their members and 100 percent of any new member class attending, according to a press release.
In addition to the punishment from the Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution, both fraternities are being punished by the Interfraternity Council (IFC) as well.
"Their chapter (executive) board has to attend a university speaker and they also have to give a comprehensive risk management plan to IFC detailing ways to manage risk and prevent underage consumption for the coming semester," said Michael Simon, vice president of public relations for IFC.
Susan Vaughn, director of the Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution, said that penalties are decided based on the nature of the offense and if the organization has a prior disciplinary history.
"If it involves alcohol there are mandatory minimum sanctions that go along with that," Vaughn said.
Vaughn said the sanctions for these fraternities are standard policy because the code of conduct requires mandatory attendance at an alcohol education program. She added that when there are many people involved, they require all new members to attend and account for the fact that many seniors may not attend, allowing for 20 percent to miss the program.
According to Vaughn, sanctions are decided at administrative hearings with an administrator from the Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution, as well as a representative for the organization and any witnesses. In separate administrative hearings, Phi Kappa Psi and Sigma Alpha Mu fraternities admitted to providing alcohol to minors.
Both fraternities were reported to have provided alcohol to minors early this semester at their houses off campus. The office of ethics and Student Conflict Resolution has imposed a sanction on these fraternities, requiring their members to complete an alcohol education course with 80 percent of their members and 100 percent of any new member class attending, according to a press release.
In addition to the punishment from the Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution, both fraternities are being punished by the Interfraternity Council (IFC) as well.
"Their chapter (executive) board has to attend a university speaker and they also have to give a comprehensive risk management plan to IFC detailing ways to manage risk and prevent underage consumption for the coming semester," said Michael Simon, vice president of public relations for IFC.
Susan Vaughn, director of the Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution, said that penalties are decided based on the nature of the offense and if the organization has a prior disciplinary history.
"If it involves alcohol there are mandatory minimum sanctions that go along with that," Vaughn said.
Vaughn said the sanctions for these fraternities are standard policy because the code of conduct requires mandatory attendance at an alcohol education program. She added that when there are many people involved, they require all new members to attend and account for the fact that many seniors may not attend, allowing for 20 percent to miss the program.
According to Vaughn, sanctions are decided at administrative hearings with an administrator from the Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution, as well as a representative for the organization and any witnesses. In separate administrative hearings, Phi Kappa Psi and Sigma Alpha Mu fraternities admitted to providing alcohol to minors.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
David H
posted 12/07/07 @ 1:33 PM EST
There really should be a push to revise the legal drinking age in the U.S. An 18 year old is old and mature enough to carry a machine gun into battle and be exposed to the horror of war, but is not old and mature enough to have an alcoholic beverage. (Continued…)
Andres
posted 12/17/07 @ 11:00 PM EST
Very well put David, I fully agree.
Post a Comment