The Sigma Pi fraternity is on social probation through the end of the academic year following an investigation after an alleged party where minors with alcohol were involved.
Director of Student Life and Leadership Stephan Lamb said the national office conducted an investigation after he received two reports that there may have been alcohol involved with an initiation event. Nationals concluded the two events were separate and not associated with one another.
Sigma Pi, however, is still on probation because there was reason to believe minors were provided alcohol at the Foothill Boulevard premises, which Lamb views as a fraternity house.
“It’s not a permitted property for a fraternity, but the majority of people in residence are associated with Sigma Pi,” Lamb said. “I make very clear though that I view it as a Sigma Pi house, even though Nationals don’t.”
Social probation limits the fraternity from participating in any events associated with alcohol and formal exchanges. Any other activities, including philanthropy, will be presented to Lamb on a case-by-case basis.
“In this case, I want to make it really clear to them that subsequent parties at the property that we become aware of involving minors with alcohol will bear a much stronger response,” Lamb said. “You can’t ever go back in time. You can’t go back to square one. We’re at square 10, so the same kind of conversation won’t happen again. I will have to take it to the next level.”
Sigma Pi alumnus and San Luis Obispo chapter director Scott Tucker said in a prepared statement that in the investigation, the chapter did not violate any policies, but he found some minor internal issues, and put Sigma Pi on social probation to give the fraternity time to address those issues.
“Basically, they can’t have house parties,” Tucker said.
Sigma Pi, according to Tucker, can participate in third-party and non-social events while on social probation.
Student Life and Leadership Coordinator Diego Silva said this year fraternities started a specialized training for risk management. Four members from each chapter will do one training each of CPR and first aid certification, alcohol and drug counseling education, a Safer volunteer training and a general party and risk management training.
“Education is the best way to prevent anything,” Silva said.
Silva said Carson Starkey’s death in 2008 from alcohol poisoning after an alleged hazing event “has definitely changed the way the university reacts to any fraternity or sorority incidents.”
Sigma Pi president and sociology junior Cameron Rodriguez was not available for comment.