The Greek Executive Council has sanctioned two of its chapters after a three-month investigation into an off-campus party that resulted in eight students being summonsed by Boston police and many more being reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR).
The Northeastern chapters of Kappa Sigma fraternity and Delta Zeta sorority were placed on probation until next fall at a hearing early last month, according to a statement from the Greek Executive Council.
The chapters were placed on a limited suspension while the situation was investigated by the council, the primary governing body of the university’s Greek community.
While under the initial suspension, the chapters were prohibited from recruiting new members or participating in social events and activities.
Now the chapters will once again be allowed to participate in the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council, respectively, and recruit new members under the normal polices set forth by the university.
The rendering is the fallout of an incident that occurred on Oct. 1 at 8 Eldora St. in Roxbury, where Boston police officers, responding to a noise complaint, summonsed eight students to appear in district court and took the names of as many as 80 other students who were present at the party.
Several members of the fraternity’s executive board, including chapter President Rob Ranley, Grand Procurator Lyle Stevens, Grand Treasurer Dustin Leer and Director of Public Relations Matthew Brem, were among those summonsed.
Both chapters were “cooperative” with the investigation, according to the statement, adding that the council is “confident that the issue is behind us.”
Kappa Sigma National Executive Director Mitchell Wilson told The News in October he had received a “preliminary report” of the incident, and it was under investigation by the fraternity’s headquarters.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Wilson said he was unaware of the outcome from the university’s investigation and said, “If there was some sort of action taken against the chapter, I haven’t received that information.”
That information, he said, “would come from the university notifying us of any disciplinary” proceedings.
The university’s Greek Council Constitution states that chapters “must maintain a strong relationship” with a national organization in an effort to “keep groups informed about chapter activities and problem situations.”
Director of Student Leadership and Engagement Christine McGill said yesterday she was unaware of the university’s specific policy for notifying the national headquarters of a Greek organization of an imposed sanction.
“Sometimes they prefer the schools to finish investigating so they can start their own, or they just go with what the school says,” McGill said.
The Greek Council Constitution also states chapters must “conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful to the surrounding neighborhood,” which includes “monitoring noise, disruptive behavior in and around parties and the general physical appearance of the property.”
It states: “The chapter, as well as individual members, including officers, will be held responsible for violations of the code.”
Attempts by The News to reach Ranley and Greek Council Vice Chair Debbie Marsh for comment were unsuccessful.
It remains to be seen whether the university’s judicial board will rule that individual fraternity or sorority members have violated the code of conduct.
If found responsible, the minimum sanction for a student, according to the Undergraduate Student Handbook, is deferred suspension.
If found in violation of any other university regulation, a student on deferred suspension is then subject to immediate suspension.
In the case of deferred suspension, additional restrictions may also be imposed regarding participation in university-sponsored activities, such as a Greek organization.
