Cal Poly disaffiliated the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon today after investigations revealed several alcohol-related violations, according to Cal Poly Student Life and Leadership director Stephen Lamb.
Allegations of sexual assault following a party at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house on May 7 led university officials to address “risk-management issues,” Lamb said.
Violations included providing alcohol to minors, serving alcohol at an open party with unrestricted access by non-members and purchasing alcohol in bulk quantities, according to a Cal Poly press release.
While the sexual assault allegations did lead to initial investigations, those allegations did not influence the decision to revoke recognition of the chapter by the university, Lamb said.
“During the course of our investigation, we found that (Sigma Phi Epsilon) had played a significant positive role in its members’ university experiences, and that the chapter as a whole had a history of high academic achievement and participation in philanthropic activities,” Lamb said. “Nevertheless, alcohol-related violations, such as those we discovered, cannot be taken lightly. We were simply left with no choice but to sever our ties with the organization, based on what we’d found.”
The chapter appealed the decision to Cornel Morton, the university’s vice president for Student Affairs, but according to Lamb, he upheld the university’s decision to disaffiliate the fraternity.
Lamb said although the national headquarters for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity would have liked to have seen a different outcome, they did work in conjunction with the university and understands what the university needed to do.
“(Sigma Phi Epsilon’s) national headquarters will be revoking (this chapter’s) charter,” Lamb said.
According to the press release, Sigma Phi Epsilon’s headquarters may not reestablish a chapter on campus until June 30, 2017.
Nicole Marcell contributed to this article.