The UA Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter was cleared of conduct violations and will not be disciplined for an alleged assault by Sigma Alpha Epsilon members against members of the UA Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity chapter last month. Sigma Alpha Epsilon is also no longer under an interim suspension of recognition from the UA.
Kendal Washington White, the dean of students, said in a UANews press release that Sigma Alpha Epsilon was cleared because “the actions under investigation were the acts of individual students and Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Alpha Epsilon Pi worked with the university to demonstrate the organizations were not involved.”
On Nov. 18, Sgt. Chris Widmer, a public information officer for the Tucson Police Department, said around 20 members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon assaulted four members of Alpha Epsilon Pi who lived in an off-campus apartment.
Widmer also said the Sigma Alpha Epsilon members kicked down the door of the apartment yelling “anti-Jewish” slurs and that they assaulted the four men inside until they realized they had the wrong apartment and left after taking $20 from one of the victim’s wallets.
TPD said yesterday that there were no updates regarding the investigation and that it was ongoing and that there have been no arrests in the case.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon had been under interim suspension of recognition because the Dean of Students Office believed that it could still present a risk to the community, according to the press release, but that suspension has been lifted.
The press release also said that the university is continuing an investigation of the individual students alleged to have committed the assault.
According to the press release, Sigma Alpha Epsilon can immediately resume all activity on campus other than holding events with alcohol, because the chapter is still under investigation for Student Code of Conduct violations alleged to have occurred in September. This investigation is related to allegations of hosting an unregistered event with alcohol, providing alcohol to minors and hazing.
Alpha Epsilon Pi also requested that the order preventing Sigma Alpha Epsilon members from having contact with Alpha Epsilon Pi members be lifted, according to the press release. Sigma Alpha Epsilon had been subjected to the restrictions after the allegations of assault surfaced.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s national chapter said in an email that its investigation into the incident is ongoing and released a statement related to the suspension’s end.
“We will continue to work with the chapter, its members and its advisory board even after our investigation has ended,” the statement read. “Sigma Alpha Epsilon regrets that several members acted in a manner that is not consistent with what we believe and what we stand for. Arizona Alpha is one of our largest chapters, and the isolated actions of these few individuals certainly do not reflect the chapter as a whole.”
The statement also added that the individuals involved have been sanctioned by Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Michelle Blumenberg, the executive director of the UA Hillel Foundation, declined comment on the decision by the Dean of Students Office until receiving more information about the situation.
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