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Sigma Chi fraternity suspended

Published: Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 00:04

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Andrew Lamberson

This is the former party house of University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity Sigma Chi, where hazing and underaged consumption of alcohol allegedly took place.

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Andrew Lamberson

This is the former party house of University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity Sigma Chi, where hazing and underaged consumption of alcohol allegedly took place.

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Andrew Lamberson

DISCLAIMER: Photo contains inappropriate language. This table was left along with a couch and a few other pieces of furniture by residents of Sigma Chi fraternity.

The Sigma Chi fraternity was suspended by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Tuesday after eight of its members were charged with hazing.

Court records show that Sigma Chi pledges were, in some cases, forced to take shots of vodka and Tabasco sauce until they vomited and were penetrated anally by a stripper with a vibrator.

Juan Franco, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said with the suspension members are still allowed to live in the fraternity house, but they can't participate in any social events.  There is no set time for how long the suspension will last.

Franco said the university is working with the national Sigma Chi office, as well as with alumni, on determining the future of the fraternity. 

"This will give us time to investigate this matter and complete the student judicial review process," Franco said in a statement. "The allegations, if true, are serious violations of UNL's Student Code of Conduct and will not be tolerated."

In all, eight students received eleven charges of hazing, procuring alcohol to minors or both. Some are officers within the fraternity.

The students, ranging in age from 19 to 22, cited were Michael Classen, James Glover, Kyle Humphrey, Jonathan Knudsen, Keegan Anderson, Samuel Bates, Ian Dimka and Chris Wozniak.

Classen, Glover and Humphrey received tickets for both hazing and procuring, Knudsen and Anderson were cited for hazing and Dimka and Wozniak were cited with procuring, UNL Police Asst. Chief Carl Oestmann said.

Other allegations include physical abuse by "striking with an object," verbal abuse "including racial, religious and sexual remarks," along with "forced and unconventional alcohol consumption," said UNL spokeswoman Kelly Bartling.

Bartling also said pledges were "made to stand and look at the ceiling for long periods of time," all as part of their "character building exercises."

Pledges were also told they were to pay "into a social fund" knowing the money was for the purchase of alcohol for the fraternity members, along with themselves.

The men of Sigma Chi didn't respond to numerous attempts by the Daily Nebraskan to contact them.

Hazing hasn't been formally addressed by UNL since 2002, when the Delta Upsilon fraternity was suspended because photos surfaced portraying a violation of campus hazing and alcohol policies.

UNL's chapter of Sigma Chi was last in the news in 1997, when members were accused of burning a 6-foot cross during a pre-initiation ritual. While no arrests were made at the time, the chapter was put on  a one-year probation by its international organization.

The most recent allegations at Sigma Chi stem from UNLPD receiving "a report from an individual," Bartling said.

The individual contacted police with information of events occurring off campus, Oestmann said in a statement.

It remains unclear whether or not the person was in any way involved with the fraternity.

Franco emphasized the strength of the greek program at UNL, saying this incident was individual to Sigma Chi.

"We want to make sure all the (fraternities) are not painted with the same brush," Franco said.

As the investigation continues, UNL hopes the consequences won't have much, if any, affect on the rest of the greek system.

"Maybe there's more education we can do about what is right and what isn't," Franco said.

katie steiner contributed to this report.

evancotten@dailynebraskan.com



 

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