sig ep expelled from gvsu

woodtv.com/2017/11/15/gvsu-boots-fraternity-for-alcohol-hazi ng-offenses/

The above link is the recent article regarding the expulsion of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.

Grand Valley State University sent a bold message when it booted the second fraternity from campus in less than a year’s time.

“If you don’t live your values, then that’s not an organization that belongs at Grand Valley,” Interim Dean of Students Steve Glass said.

GVSU confirmed its decision Wednesday to expel the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity from campus after repeat violations surrounding alcohol consumption and hazing. The decision bars the fraternity from GVSU for five years.

The decision was appealed by members once, but GVSU’s investigation led them to uphold its choice to remove the fraternity.

The final blow came just as the school year started in September. A 21-year-old student was hospitalized after having too much to drink, university officials said. Fraternity brothers say the student fell in the bathroom and had a concussion.

Jacob Gaft, a senior who was a member of the fraternity, said the students should not be punished for how they handled this situation, but lauded. He says his fraternity brothers may have saved the injured student’s life.

“It was a 21-year-old who was drinking under his own conditions. He slipped and fell. Two sober brothers brought him to the hospital,” Gaft said. “He did have a concussion but I would say we followed all the rules.”

Another fraternity member fears action may discourage students from getting students the help they need.

“This kind of just makes fraternities want to hide what they do even when something like this happens,” said Jeff Jedson, a junior at GVSU.

GVSU leaders said the move was not heavy-handed because it came after the fraternity was given opportunities to turn things around. Recently, the group had been on a probationary status.

It was lifted in January.

“It wasn’t long after they came off their sanction that they went back to the same behavior,” Glass said. “This wasn’t salvageable. (the misbehavior) was too widespread in that organization.”

Students said the fraternity’s expulsion is an embarrassment.

“It is embarrassing especially when the news is here. This is on our resumes. This is our life. We’ve committed a lot of time to this,” Jedson said. “To have it all thrown away over nothing — It’s kind of embarrassing. It does shed a bad light on us.”

Glass said the university and members of the national Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity each conducted investigations.

Jedson and Gaft say they hope the bad things don’t take over the fraternity’s reputation.

“I think we should be known for all the good we’ve done, not just a few bad things that may have happened,” Jedson said.

While the official organization has been disbanded, its members say the brotherhood will remain.

“It has brought me a lot over the years, I would say a lot of good friendships that I hope to last the rest of my lifetime,” Gaft said.

Officials at GVSU warned students against attempting to operate the fraternity “underground,” threatening discipline that Glass said could include expulsion from the university.

Glass said another fraternity was expelled earlier this year for similar violations. He said the action the school is taking should serve as a wakeup call for all taking part in Greek life at Grand Valley State University.

“Definitely a snap to attention and ‘let’s look at what we’re doing,’” Glass said. “With every bad