The Sigma Chi fraternity was placed on interim suspension of activities after a reported injury of a UA student at the fraternity house.
The Dean of Students Office and the Fraternity & Sorority Programs were alerted on Aug. 29 by the University of Arizona Police Department that there was a high risk in the activities at the Sigma Chi fraternity house that night.
According to a UAPD report, two officers responded to a call for medical assistance near the Learning Services Building. When the officers arrived, one of the officers noticed a girl lying on the sidewalk outside of the building across the street from the Sigma Chi fraternity house.
The report said the officer observed vomit containing blood in front of the girl and smelled alcohol. After speaking with witnesses, the two officers were told that there was a possibility of assault.
According to the report, one of the witnesses saw about six people carry a girl out of the house. The witness also said in the report that the girl was “trashed,” had a bloody nose and her arms appeared to have glass in them.
The same witness also saw a shirtless man walk out of the house and told the group carrying the girl, “Not on this side of the street. Get her across the street.” The group then proceeded to place her on the sidewalk in front of the Learning Services Building.
Another officer who responded to the call and initially could not find the girl arrived on scene and talked to firefighters from the Tucson Fire Department, according to the report. The officer said a TFD firefighter observed a laceration on the student’s nose and what looked like burns on her forearms.
Two of the officers on scene went to the emergency room to verify information the girl had given them. One of the officers spoke with the nurse who treated her and said the girl had several small cuts on her nose and burns that were blistering on her arm, according to the report.
Sigma Chi could not be reached for comment.
According to Kendal Washington White, dean of students and assistant vice president for student affairs, the fraternity will not be allowed to host any university activity until the investigation is complete.
The fraternity’s activities have now been limited to meetings, new member events and new member education, according to Chrissy Lieberman, associate dean of students.
“The interim action was simply because the culmination of activities just seemed as if it was high risk,” Lieberman said.
Johanne Ives, assistant dean of students for Fraternity & Sorority Programs, said the incident raised officials’ concern for the safety of guests at Sigma Chi.
“This situation could have been complicated by the fact that they have a new house. … It’s understandable that there’s a learning curve and growing curve,” Ives said.
Ives also said it was important for the fraternity to understand that events with alcohol have to be registered. According to Ives, Sigma Chi is being charged with violations of code of conduct related to alcohol and hosting an unregistered event.
Lieberman said the length of the interim depends on the complexity of the case. However, Ives said she thinks it could last a couple of weeks because the organization has cooperated.
“Ultimately, safety is going to always be a priority,” Lieberman said.
—Follow Meghan Fernandez @MeghanFernandez
