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Greek fraternity under investigation for alleged misconduct
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by Pedro Oliveira Jr.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
A University of Wisconsin fraternity is being investigated by the Intrafraternity Council for allegations of misconduct, in a case that could lead to the group's suspension from campus.
The fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, will have an appeal for suspension before the IFC Judicial Board today, according to IFC President Drew Willert.
According to Willert, when such allegations are made, an IFC Advisory Board investigates the issue and presents it to members of each chapter of the council.
The group is then taken before the IFC Judicial Board, which includes representatives of the 24 fraternity members of the IFC.
In today's appeal, representatives of IFC-affiliated frats will review Alpha Epsilon Pi's case and vote to uphold the Judicial Board's decision to suspend the fraternity or amend it, Willert said.
The fraternity will have a chance to defend their case and bring forth witnesses.
"Then basically, at the end, the members of IFC, each chapter, either uphold the decision made by the board or to amend [it]," Willert said.
If the suspension is upheld, Alpha Epsilon Pi would not be eligible to register or receive benefits granted to other registered student organizations, according to the Student Organization Office.
It is unclear whether hazing is part of the misconduct accusations.
Willert declined to provide further comment on the matter.
Hazing is constituted as any action or situation that intentionally threatens the mental or physical health of a student, for the purpose of initiation to the organization, and it is prohibited to any fraternity affiliated with the council, according to the IFC constitution.
Alpha Epsilon Pi is a nationally recognized Jewish fraternity located on Langdon Street.
Correction: Due to a reporting error, this article should have said the Intrafraternity Council’s Judicial Board investigates allegations of misconduct, not the Advisory Board. We regret the error.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 4:03am):
They made my buddy drink some type of oil, got him really sick, really screwed him up. Not cool, glad to see AEPI in the tank.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 5:08am):
Glad this BS by frats is finally getting dealt with.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 9:13am):
This "BS by frats" always gets dealt with. IFC and JBoard don't mess around with hazing.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 9:43am):
Wow, you guys must not be able to read... It says, "It is unclear whether hazing is part of the misconduct accusations." Nice reporting by the Herald- posting that sentence and then go on to define hazing. Also, the article should state that AEPi has historically had one of the top GPA's on campus, was on the winning team of this past year's humorology, and is an active participant in the UW Jewish community.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 10:24am):
This anti-fraternity sentiment seems a bit extreme. Individuals choose to participate in these activities by their own volition, this is not the military where one must accept marching orders or face stern consequences. If an individual does not want to participate, they undoubtedly have the option to use their time in other manners. If one is intelligent enough to be a student here at the UW, surely they should deemed capable of making their own life decisions regardless of whether these seem agreeable to the outsiders. Perhaps the argument of peer pressure will be used at this point, but it seems oddly out of place at this age, should we also expect the university to step in when friends convince friends to have a brat at a football game, that seems awfully detrimental to one's health as well.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 11:32am):
well said
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 12:15pm):
I am really upset by the Badger Herald's perpetuation of negativity toward the Greek system. We don't bother you or start anti-nongreek campaigns so stop the abuse. Writing an arbitrary article without sufficient facts to make it remotely interesting is a obvious low blow at Greeks and makes the BH look like a staff of bitter brats.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 12:32pm):
As a former member of the Greek Judicial Board, I suggest that you all look at the past records of complaints and decisions by the JBoard. AEPi has CONSISTENTLY been brought in front of the board for hazing and party related violations of IFC and University policies and has CONSISTENTLY been found to be liable. As for the other house that is not being mentioned in this article, Sigma Alpha Mu (the cardinal has the story), not only have they been brought up MANY times in the past four years on hazing complaints, they have also been brought before the board for having sorority women AND alcohol at Rush events. They have gotten multiple decisions and multiple sanctions against them for their conduct. They also have sanctions for "hosting" a Halloween party at the Orpheum and charging money for people to get it (an expressed violation). If houses don't learn from their mistakes, then they deserve to be suspended. It doesn't take a genius to see that violating a policy that you've violated in the past is going to bring forth a more serious consequence the next time.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 12:48pm):
"Individuals choose to participate in these activities by their own volition, this is not the military where one must accept marching orders or face stern consequences. If an individual does not want to participate, they undoubtedly have the option to use their time in other manners."
AMEN!!
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 12:48pm):
its ridiculous how little the student body outside of the greek system actually knows about the greek system.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 1:27pm):
There has been no such hazing of that magnitude in the history of UW Greek life much less AEPi, and I am ashamed of those who seek to perpetuate such heinous rumors.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 1:30pm):
I'd love to watch Steinberg try and lie his way out of the hearing, "Oh, we don't haze! That's not true!" It's funny, you know, that a supposedly Jewish organization would resort to violating the Torah in order to protect their frat. I bet mommy and daddy Steinberg are proud.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 1:54pm):
"We don't bother you or start anti-nongreek campaigns so stop the abuse."
Because the Greek system is rarely held accountable in the campus press when they break the rules. It's news that a frat gets suspended and, in the case of Sigma Alpha Mu, expelled.
It's not Greek hate. It's news. Deal with it.
Second, to 9:43 and the unclear if it involves hazing comment: Willert refused to discuss the matter further. If it wasn't hazing he would have just denied it. IT'S HAZING!
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 2:24pm):
It is hazing.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 2:24pm):
As a former member of the Greek Judicial Board, it is not true that AEPi has been consistently been brought before the board for violations. As far as I've heard, these allegations stem from an anonymous complaint without any evidence or facts. This anonymous complaint is much like the baseless rumors started in this blog.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 2:34pm):
"We don't bother you or start anti-nongreek campaigns so stop the abuse."
Absolutely one of the most pathetic comments I have ever read. Any member of AEPi knows EXACTLY why this article and these allegations are being made. Give it up, that "nice Jewish fraternity" your parents think you're a part of has been exposed... again.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 3:22pm):
some of these posts are just naive. it is unfortunate that an anonymous person called out AEPi on things they did not do. however, the most disturbing issue is that AEPi is the ONLY frat being attacked. IFC knows that other frats haze and if our greek system really has a no tolerance policy for hazing then enforce it including everyone... not just one frat. it is not fair to attack one frat (which really does not do bad things to their guys) and let all the other frats go, even though people know that other frats haze (and do worse things than AEPi). give steinberg a break... he is a great guy who is getting put in a tough situation, dont be immature 10 year olds and assume you know everything about this situation from the article... because you dont.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 4:00pm):
I'm really upset by the Greek system's perpetuation of bad behavior.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 4:20pm):
i'm upset that the badger herald has 'approved' posts reporting false aepi activities as well as posts attacking steinberg. the herald also failed to mention that steinberg was chosen as the president of the year by the national organization of aepi. he has turned the house around, getting more new members then ever before, expanding their social calendar, and participating in/winning humorology 2007. unless you know him personally, keep your opinions to yourself. if you did know him personally, you would understand the REAL situation and sympathize with a house that has been wrongly accused.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 4:36pm):
I sincerely hope the source decides to give up their anonymity.
The defendants would just give up trying.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 4:36pm):
THE AEPi president actually resigned last year over hazing. He did not want to do it, so the members at large said they would impeach him if wouldn't approve of it, so he stepped down. Then, the hazing occured. I have several friends who are currently in AEPi and they told me that they had to drink an entire bottle of canola oil as well as take a large live goldfish that was in a bag of water and eat the live goldfish/drink the water. If they didn't do it, they were threatened with physical beatings.
That these guys are being suspended for this shows very highly of the greek system for being able to police itself.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 4:38pm):
I hear IFC hazes their new members
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 4:46pm):
good job aepi, way to spam these boards. that's bullshit. you've hazed for years and oops! got caught!
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 4:54pm):
does anyone have a good recipe for mashed potatoes?
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 5:02pm):
lets all settle down and get back to studying.
ps. packers suck
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 6:32pm):
This "anon source" smells to high heaven of a buncha frat boys trying to pass off blame. It was probably a parent or kid in the frat who got scared. Now I know why I dont go to frat parties... rapists and hazers
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 7:39pm):
First, here's a great mashed potato recipe for the post at 4:54 http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/mashed.htm
2nd, why don't we all let the institutions designed to look into these claims look into them? Then, after IFC decides, we can all criticize them from the safety of our anonymous blogging.
3rd, saying all frat parties are filled with rapists and hazers is just silly. At most its only half filled with those kinds of people, sheesh!
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 8:02pm):
these idiots that talk about AEPI like they know whats goin on...none of these comments are from credible sources.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 8:31pm):
i pee my bed too sometimes...big deal
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 8:54pm):
i dont see the big deal with hazing, i mean it seems pretty chill
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 8:56pm):
roses are red,
violets are blue
you're all wasting your time posting on this,
cuz no one cares what any of you think and none of your opinions matter.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 10:47pm):
If people want to look into the hazing situation at UW, they need to look beyond the frats and look to the whole greek system. Sororities haze just as much as the frats, but are better at keeping quiet.
Anonymous (October 3, 2007 @ 11:27pm):
The story does not explicitly state that hazing had actually occurred. And given the level of anti-Semitism already evident on this campus, I wouldn't be surprised if the accusations are proven to be false.
Anonymous (October 4, 2007 @ 9:13am):
For the person the decieded it was AEPi's party at the Orpheum i think you need to get your facts straight! It was another fraternity that held that.
Rob Camhe (October 4, 2007 @ 9:15am):
What a joke! Every frat hazes, if you are a member of a frat you know you do. It's a right of passage. My 3 months as an AEPi pledge were the best three months i had on campus. Every ritual and activity we did, we did voluntarily, and I'm sure that goes for the kids in school now. This is such BS....
Anonymous (October 4, 2007 @ 9:27am):
Wow that top comment seems ridic. Is this world turning into a bunch of pussies? I pledged at AEPi and the oil thing was a joke it was so easy. they didnt make you do anything extreme, thats why i didnt even stay with the frat in the end. People need to mind their business and be able to choose themselves whether something is too extreme or not. If you have a choice then it is your fault if you don't like the results.
Anonymous (October 4, 2007 @ 3:51pm):
"People need to mind their business and be able to choose themselves whether something is too extreme or not."
My professional career depends on the reputation and respectability of this University, so I care. If you want to do this hazing stuff fine, but drop out of school first, and stay off campus.
Anonymous (October 5, 2007 @ 1:20pm):
It's funny that these comments are made . . . people really don't know all of the facts . . . you don't know what happened. While I disagree with the person who claimed to be a member of the JBoard who said that AEPi hasn't been called in before . . . look to the year 2005 when they were called in front of the board FIVE times. That seems like a lot to me. And to the person who said that AEPi is the only house being discussed and whatnot . . . The JBoard has suspended MULTIPLE houses for violations . . Beta, SAE, SAM . . . the system polices itself. Let it do what it is going to do and comment after if you disagree.
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