Fraternity Hazing? Save Email Print
Reporter: Evrod Cassimy
Email Address: ECassimy@nbc15.com

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"Oh I'm obviously disgusted," says Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity member, Justin Banach. "This portrays the Greek community in a poor manor."

The news has sent a shock wave through fraternity and sorority houses on campus at the UW Madison. One of the universities own fraternities, Sigma Phi Epsilon, or Sig Ep, is under investigation for hazing allegations.

"The events that took place in their front yard," says Alpha Gamma Rho president, Eli Rolli. "I believe it was sometime this weekend. They had some new members standing out on the yard in their boxers. They dumped contents of, I believe it was fecal matter and urine and puke in a bucket on their members heads."

These allegations are now being investigated by the Office of the Dean of Students, which is not yet confirming or denying whether this specific incident happened as described.

However a statement from the Sig Ep Alumni Board says, "The actions that took place outside of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house...were inappropriate...The actions were, in fact, unsanctioned and unsupervised and in no way a part of the formal activation process that marks the initiation of a new member into the fraternity. No members were required to participate and only did so voluntarily."

"We are in the process of (finding out) what did occur, how do we define it, and what our response should be," says Kevin Helmkamp, Associate Dean of Students.

Helmkamp and other university administrators have spoken with several Sig Ep members to determine if the allegations are true. Next they'll decide whether they're consistent with the definition of the term hazing.

"Where there is a power difference. Where an individual is made to do something. Where an individual does not have free choice in what they are able to do."

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Posted by: greatidea Location: nowhere on May 12, 2008 at 02:06 PM
I think it is amazing that not one of these young adults thought it was a stupid idea from the beginning. Did it go something like this?..."Hey, let's dump s@@@ on the newbies". "Sounds great!!" "Okay, all in favor..." You'd think the Biology major would have voted against it.

Posted by: ph Location: madworld on May 9, 2008 at 08:45 AM
The frat has not been exonerated. repeat - the frat has not been exonerated. sorry Ted. Frats disgust me. wish my mommy and daddy paid for every part of my education. while i live in a frat, dumping fecal material on people. you people are messed up! should be more like SickEp. Sick.

Posted by: Ryan on May 9, 2008 at 12:19 AM
I am a SigEp myself and even if this is not considered hazing, no SigEp should EVER do anything like this. This goes against everything we stand for. This is a complete embarrassment to all SigEp's.

Posted by: M Location: Madison on May 8, 2008 at 10:03 PM
New members were also given the chance to do the same thing to older members, so as gross it this is, it should not be considered hazing.

Posted by: w Location: madcity on May 8, 2008 at 01:43 PM
I feel terrible that Ted also sounds like a Frat boy.

Posted by: geoff Location: madison on May 8, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Ted, where are you getting your information regarding the U.W. exonerating the fraternity? I have not heard nor read this anywhere? Even if it was voluntary, it is a bad stain on the greek community as a whole. We reap what we sow. Unfortunately, the actions of a few stupid individuals will bring much criticism. It was a stupid thing to do on many counts. For a moments fun and humor, much damage can be done. Why is it people act before thinking? d in Waunakee, YES, this is a biohazarous situation and some of these "young adults" (term used loosely) may have been exposed to numerous infectious diseases. Some peoples CHILDREN! I am a lifetime member of Sig Ep and am embarrased to admit it today. A letter to the national council will be sent.

Posted by: Ted Location: Madison on May 8, 2008 at 12:19 PM
The university has exonerated the fraternity for hazing charges and admits that nothing wrong occurred. Although it may be gross, there we no ground for hazing and the university now understands that, but the name of the fraternity has been tarnished. Newspapers and news stations dragged this story for all they could and put a lot of false thoughts into the heads of many students and people of the community. I do not see how this fraternity will recover which is truly a sad thing because if you do any research on the fraternity; they donate over 10,000 dollars every year to the children's hospital through their philanthropy and had over 500 ours of community service. Yes they might do some stupid things, but are you telling me that you have never acted immaturely in your entire life. Exactly, hope you all feel terrible for just hopping on a bandwagon because you have problems with the greek systems. There are much more important things to worry about... pathetic

Posted by: d Location: waunakee on May 8, 2008 at 12:09 PM
is dumping human excrement on people not a biohazard? yuck! drake does sound like a frat boy! where you in on the fecal exploits?

Posted by: Dave Location: Dodgeville on May 8, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Umm, let's see if we can tell the difference between those comments posted by kids that are still in college and those that have graduated and matured...

Posted by: G Location: Madison on May 8, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Hmmm...you a frat boy Drake?

Posted by: Joey Location: Madison on May 8, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Drake: get a grip! Legitimate news outfits don't report rumor as fact. If you have proof that hazing does not happen at the house in question, come foward and provide the facts. Otherwise, your comment is nothing more than uninformed pap aimed at discrediting a respected journalist. Have you no integrity?

Posted by: Drake on May 8, 2008 at 09:18 AM
Get your facts straight rather than leaching off of some college hotshot who has "anonymous" sources. This story has been pending, an NO ONE knows what really happened other than those within their fraternity, so splashing hurtful allegations all over TV has a great potential of error. Mind you, that this whole process has dragged the Sigma Phi Epsilon name as well as the whole Greek community through the mud for nothing more than allegations on a campus where many disagree with the Greek lifestyle, seeking to shed negative light on whenever there is an opportunity. You are propagating the already rampant discrimination projected on the UW Greeks without truly knowing anything. Great news media! I'm surprised I don't tune in more often...

Posted by: D Location: Madison on May 8, 2008 at 09:05 AM
This is college idiota's, you are supposed to do stupid things, did anyone die, was anyone robbed? Did peoples feelings get hurt? Probably, but we need to quit being such a "feel good" society. If the US was ever attacked what percent of people would be able to handle any sort of conflict, ten, fifteen at the most. We are becoming physically and mentally weak as a society and it is going to come back to haunt us.

Posted by: elmo Location: downtown on May 8, 2008 at 08:20 AM
what a bunch of idiots. disgusting idiots.

Posted by: Pam on May 8, 2008 at 08:10 AM
This is disgusting-grow up people!!

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