Eugene Police Department officers issued alcohol-related citations to five University students Feb. 1 at a party held at Sigma Nu fraternity. Sigma Nu is one of two fraternities not recognized by the University’s Greek Life Office because of disagreements with current endorsement standards. As a result, it will not face disciplinary sanctions.
Junior Spencer Miles, house president, received citations for an unlabeled keg and for furnishing to minors, while four other individuals received minor in possession citations.
As of Dec. 15, 2002, Sigma Nu became disaffiliated with the Greek system after refusing to abide by University requirements — including substance- and alcohol-free housing.
“They should be anticipating hard times after this incident,” Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Anne Leavitt said, “even if they’re not in the Greek system.”
According to EPD reports, a University freshman was stopped late Friday night while walking eastbound on East 11th Avenue because she appeared to be intoxicated. The officers issued the 18-year-old an MIP, and the student eventually
directed them to Sigma Nu, located at 763 East 11th Ave.
Officers reported that most of the estimated 250 individuals at the party emerged from the basement and were “clearly under (age) 21 and drinking,” EPD spokeswoman Kerry Delf said.
Four MIPs were issued in total. The fifth citation was issued to Miles, 20, for furnishing alcohol to minors — a finable
violation — and harboring an
unlabeled keg, which is a criminal misdemeanor.
Miles confirmed his involvement in the incident but refused to speak for the house as a whole.
To be recognized by the University, Greek houses must comply with a number of standards mandated by University President Dave Frohnmayer and the Greek Life Office. These requirements were established during spring 2002, but fraternities were not required to follow the guidelines until Dec. 15. Sigma Nu and Pi
Kappa Alpha fraternity chose not to comply.
“Those chapters made a deliberate choice against staying affiliated,” Greek Life Coordinator Shelley Sutherland said. Because of their decisions, Sigma Nu and Pi Kappa Alpha are no longer members of the Interfraternity Council.
“Up until now, local chapters have not had the experience of being disinvited,” Leavitt said, “but they’ve been close.”
Prior to the new requirements, only issues of financial collapse, low member retention or poor recruitment have resulted in the University “pulling the charter” of a chapter, Leavitt said. In more escalated situations, inappropriate conduct brought certain Greek chapters very close to being removed from the system, but those cases were more commonly addressed by house corporations or alumni associations, she added.
Miles will be in court Feb. 14.