The University has put Sigma Alpha Epsilon on probation after members of the fraternity admitted to damaging a house near Bend in mid-November, Student Judicial Affairs Director Chris Loschiavo said.
A fraternity member rented the house from Nov. 14 through Nov.16, 2003, for a weekend party with other members.
Because members of the fraternity violated their own “social code” and the University’s student conduct code, the fraternity must complete 150 hours of community service, write letters of apology to neighbors of the house and examine their own chapter and national bylaws to ensure that no similar incidents occur in the future, Loschiavo said.

The probation period will last through the end of the school year. If another incident occurs during that time, the University would consider not recognizing the fraternity, Loschiavo said.
The owner of the house, Les Brock, told The Register-Guard that damage included two cut-down trees, a destroyed footbridge, ruined carpeting, extensive smoke damage from an outside bonfire and water damage from a broken water pipe. In the article, he said damage totaled about $20,000.
Emerald efforts to contact Brock were unsuccessful.
Robert DeMarco, assistant executive director for SAE Region IV, said fraternity members elected to undergo the community service for the damage they caused. However, he said much of the damage Brock complained of — such as damage to a footbridge, the cutting down of two trees and the bursting of a water pipe — were not caused by fraternity members.
DeMarco added that, despite requests, Brock has not provided a complete list of damage.
“It doesn’t appear that all of Mr. Brock’s claims are well-founded,” he said.
DeMarco said Brock’s contract was not with the international fraternity organization, and the fraternity would not be responsible or pay any amount to him.
DeMarco said the fraternity’s investigation of the incident is “relatively complete,” but he would not comment on whether the University chapter of SAE will be punished.
“I’m not going to comment to the newspaper about what sanctions, if any, will be imposed,” DeMarco said. “Whatever action the (international organization) is going to take will be kept confidential. We have an ongoing investigation until we have our final conversation with the University.”
Greek Life Coordinator Shelley Sutherland said fraternities or members of fraternities occasionally make mistakes when they’re participating in events.
“It’s appropriate that they be held reasonably accountable for their mistakes,” she said. “And in this case, the chapter is cooperating with concerned parties and doing just that.”
Loschiavo said there were problems with SAE in the past, but after some reorganizing it has been a “pretty good chapter.”
“The University doesn’t condone any kind of damage to someone’s property, and we believe that student organizations should take care of that property as if it were there own,” Loschiavo said. “I think all of those things hopefully will teach the chapter that when we go away that’s not permission to go wild.”