by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
Dean of Students Randy Boeglin didn't know fraternities could
cause so much trouble at UNM. "This is an unprecedented set of
circumstances that I've never seen in my career here," he said. "These incidents reflect negatively on the chapters. They reflect negatively for UNM." Three UNM chapters were suspended within one week: Phi Delta Theta, Kappa Sigma and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. They are on suspension until the University is done investigating incidents ranging from alcohol violations to rape allegations that happened in and around the houses,
he said.
Individual members were responsible for the incidents, but the University will try to determine to what extent other members were involved, Boeglin said. In response to the allegations, UNM President David Schmidly, a Sigma Nu alumnus, announced Wednesday that UNM would form a task force to "examine the culture of the Greek system." "We want to remind those organizations of their important functions in terms of community service, leadership and behavior standards," he said in a press reease. "These recent incidents have raised concern that there is an unhealthy climate in some of these organizations."
The fraternities are not allowed to function as social institutions or participate in University activities under the suspensions. However, they may still function as student housing. Kappa Sigma was suspended Tuesday because of two incidents
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that occurred early that morning, Boeglin said.
The following accounts are based on police reports and statements from Lt. Pat Davis, spokesman for UNM Police. At 2 a.m., UNM Police went to the fraternity house in reference to a fight that involved death threats and a 12-guage shotgun.
Witnesses said a man left the house with the shotgun after the fight. However, he did not have it when police found him.
Two hours later, Albuquerque Police officers found a member of the fraternity intoxicated on the corner of Lomas and University boulevards. They contacted UNM Police, who filed a report with the Dean of Students Office. "The subject had a difficult time keeping balance as he attempted to put his shoes on," a police report states. "He had a hard time concentrating and was very uncooperative with APD when they tried to get his personal information."
Police also found marijuana on the man.
Boeglin said the University will investigate the cases to determine if the chapter is responsible.
"The question for us is to what extent did this altercation flow
out from the house," he said. "There are some indications that
alcohol might have been present in the house. When APD called UNM police, there was an indication from that individual that he had been at a party at the Kappa Sig(ma) house." John Boone, an attorney representing Kappa Sigma, declined to comment.
Phi Delta Theta was suspended Aug. 17 after UNM Police told the Dean of Students Office that an underage girl got drunk at the fraternity house, Boeglin said.
The girl's parents picked her up from the house and took her to Presbyterian Hospital, where she was treated for alcohol poisoning, according to a police report.
"They were concerned that their daughter, one, was permitted to drink in the house," Boeglin said. "Second, they were very
concerned that, when she drank to the point of excess, appropriate interventions weren't taken, and medical assistance (wasn't) called for her."
Phi Delta Theta was suspended in Aug. 2006 for violating the UNM Code of Conduct after a blind student who pledged to the
fraternity reported that members hazed him. The suspension was lifted at the end of the spring semester. Members of Phi Delta Theta could not be reached for comment.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon was suspended Aug. 14 after UNM Police arrested pledge Michael McGuffin, 25, on rape charges. McGuffin was arrested on 11 felony counts, including criminal
sexual penetration, sexual contact with a minor and sexual exploitation of children, according to court records.
A spokesman for the fraternity said no other members knew about McGuffin's actions.
In October, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, James Anaya, was arrested on charges of raping a female student at the fraternity's house. His case is pending in district court.
Boeglin said the fraternities and UNM will have to work together to converge the Greek system's values with its members' behavior.
"At this point, there is a gap that we must close," he said. "It's
incumbent on all parties - the national headquarters, the University and on each chapter and its membership - to work to bring that convergence so that what they say they believe in is what they do."
