The Reporter

Vol. CXXI Issue 10 553S ^5555 THE EPORTER Stetson University I DeLand, Fla. Check out The Reporter's website by scanning this code! HOMECOMING WEEK 2013 more photos on page 8 Comedian Nick Kroll entertains the crowd with his routine The Stetson Cheer team performing stunts on stage during the Pep Rally School punishes fraternity for hazing when cops couldn't prove it occurred Eleanor Roy Editor-in-Chief Sigma Phi Epsilon is now on university sanctions due to an alleged hazing incident on Fraternity Bid Night, even though an investigation by the DeLand Police Department was inconclusive. According to Kevin Beaugez, Sigma Phi Epsilon President, the fraternity was found responsible by the university for hazing, alcohol violations and fire safety violations. They are not allowed to have socials or formals and are not allowed to have alcohol in their house until the end of fraternity recruitment in 2014. According to a report that DeLand Police closed on Monday, Associate Director for Student Development and Campus Vibrancy, Nate Burke, headed the university investigation which led to the sanctions against the fraternity. Burke confirmed that his investigation was closed, but was unavailable for further comment. "Sigma Phi Epsilon Florida Beta was found responsible for hazing, alcohol violations, and fire safety violations," Beaugez said. "It was a three-week-long investigation... Nate interviewed only one new member out of 36, so not a very large sample size. Through all of this investigation, they came to the conclusion that it was hazing. We disagreed." The police report says that in the early morning of Oct. 6 around 6:30 a.m., Public Safety and the DeLand Fire Department responded to a fire alarm coming from inside of the fraternity house. Upon entering the house, they found multiple health and safety violations including covered smoke alarms and furniture blocking emergency exits. In addition, the report said responding officials noticed that one of the rooms had tarps over the windows and "several milk jugs in the room that were full of urine." It later notes that Burke said in his case notes that "new members urinated in the water jugs because they may not have felt comfortable to leave and go to the bathroom." However, the reporting DeLand Police officer noted that Burke was unable to confirm where that information had originated. The report also makes note that a new member was allegedly allowed to leave early, disproving that new members were forced to stay. However, this information was also unsubstantiated. "Also, in the letter that we got from the Office of Community Standards, it said that our national fraternity found us responsible for hazing," Beaugez said. "That is 100 percent false because they never even did an investigation." According to the police report, DeLand Police were contacted about the incident by Public Safety on Oct. 25. "Because it was a hazing event, we felt compelled to contact DPD," Public Safety Director Bob Matusick said. He added that hazing in Florida can range from "nothing all the way up to a felony. When something has the potential to be a felony, we call the Police Department," he said. "I was displeased to know that Stetson alerted the Deland Police Department of our actions because I thought that was completely out of their jurisdiction," Beaugez said. "Sig Ep was fully cooperative in the Stetson Investigation. I told Nate exactly what happened that night, and he turned all of his notes over to DeLand PD anyway." Despite looking at emails between fraternity members and administration members, pictures taken at the fraternity house on the night of the alleged event and case notes from Burke's investigation, the DeLand Police were unable to find probable cause that any of the 36 new members were hazed. "Due to the fact that the possible victims are being uncooperative along with all members associated with the fraternity I have been unable to develop probable cause that a crime has occurred," DeLand Police Department Detective Jamie Brazeau concluded in the report. "I thought that overall the investigation was mishandled and there were certainly decisions that should not have been made and conclusions that should not have happened," Beaugez said. The fraternity is still allowed to participate in formal fall recruitment in 2014. What's in this issue Juried Student Art Exhibition A S E, page 4 Stetson football wins Homecoming game Sports, page 6