Sigma Chi found responsible for hazing violations

After pleading "not responsible" and appealing part of the sanctions placed on the group, social fraternity Sigma Chi was found "responsible for violation of the JMU hazing policy" for an Oct. 8 incident during an exam. Sigma Chi was one of the four Greek organizations under investigation for hazing charges in October, although its final judgment came Nov. 19. Sororities Zeta Tau Alpha and Alpha Sigma Tau and fraternity Kappa Delta Rho were charged with violations of JMU Hazing Policy in October.

"During an exam in a general geography class, a student stood up and yelled, ‘I can't believe this sh—! I hate this f—-ing class and I f—-ing hate you!'," said Sheila Williams, coordinator of Fraternity/Sorority Life. "He then tore up the test and ran out of the room."

Williams said, "I was really mad. I think it's shameful. It's embarrassing."

The student, freshman Alex Cook, was pledging Sigma Chi at the time and was initiated this weekend, according to Sigma Chi Vice President Nick Fullencamp, a senior. Cook was encouraged into this act by Sigma Chi member junior Stew Emenheiser, according to Fullencamp. Cook and Emenheiser could not be reached for comment.

Williams said that neither Cooke nor Emenheiser were enrolled in the GenEd geography class of over 300 students, taught by associate professor of geographic science Stephen Wright.

"The event that occurred in Dr. Wright's class was a completely isolated event that carried with it an extremely negative reception amongst the members of our chapter," Fullencamp said. "It concerned one brother who used some bad judgment when talking to a new member and a new member who used some bad judgment while trying to impress a brother."

According to Fullencamp, Sigma Chi suspended Emenheiser from the fraternity indefinitely.

Scott Ewert, the judicial chair for InterFraternity Council at the time of the Sigma Chi trial, ran the hearing Nov. 1. According to Ewert, only three people testified during the hearing: Sigma Chi President Eric Garcia, who "represented the accused," Williams, who was "the accuser," and Wright.
Sigma Chi pleaded "not responsible." Garcia said, "We did not feel that the fraternity should be held entirely responsible for the poor decision making exercised by one of our members."

Sigma Chi was found "responsible by the council," and given five sanctions, according to Ewert.

The first sanction called for the fraternity to issue written apologies to Wright and geography department head Steve Frysinger, and for the executive board to apologize "in shirt and tie attire" to the entire class, Ewert said.

"I would have written him an apology and made efforts to apologize to him face to face even if the sanction were not handed down," Garcia said.

The second sanction called for Emenheiser and Cook to be brought up on Judicial Council charges, according to Ewert.

"[Cook and Emenheiser] have been brought in front of the Judicial Board and have both received their punishment," Fullencamp said.

The fourth and fifth sanctions called for the national chapter to be notified and Sigma Chi's advisor, Josh Bacon of Judicial Affairs, speak to "the brotherhood on the consequences of hazing," Ewert said.

"We took it upon ourselves to notify our national headquarters about the situation that had occurred," Garcia said.

Ewert said Sigma Chi appealed the third sanction.

"We were satisfied with all of the sanctions that were handed down, except the one that prohibited us from having any social functions until the Fall semester of 2002," Fullencamp said.

Ewert said, "They were appealing on the severity of the sanctions."

Following the appeal on Nov. 19, the council changed the sanction, and it now simply calls for the chapter to "remain on social suspension until the completion of … [a] program … facilitated by a Sigma Chi national staff member," Ewert said.

According to Williams, the Sigma Chi national office has not threatened any actions.

The specific vote count on the charges and the appeal was not recorded, according to Ewert.

"The fact that our whole chapter was penalized for the mistakes of two individuals just shows how the same thing can happen to any other fraternity or sorority on campus at any given time," Fullencamp said.