The Mississippi Theta chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity will lose its registration and vacate its Mississippi State University campus residence by Oct. 20 because of an alcohol violation while under probation.
According to a university press release, the violation involved a single case of alcohol poisoning. The situation was similar to a December 2000 incident, which resulted in the fraternity being put on two years’ probation.
“The decision to suspend registration is consistent with other cases involving student organizations in which someone was seriously injured through actions of the organization,” said Dean of Students Mike White in the press release.
In a January 2001 Reflector report, White was quoted as saying, “Over the past three years, SAE has committed three alcohol violations, two of which were serious enough to merit probation periods. If the chapter commits any further violations during the current probation, it will face additional sanctions up to and including closure.”
The current incident, in which a victim was hospitalized after consuming an excessive amount of alcohol at the SAE fraternity house, will result in SAE losing its charter for the remainder of the academic year.
Two anonymous sources independently confirmed that the victim was a freshman male MSU student under 21. The victim was not an SAE member, and drank of his own free will, said the sources. The victim was reportedly out of school for a week because of the alcohol poisoning but has fully recovered and is back attending classes.
Dr. Thomas Goodale, executive director and eminent supreme recorder of the international fraternity, said he regrets the incident and the chapter losing its status as a campus organization.
“We’re very sorry that this occurred,” Goodale said. “We want to abide by the university sanction, and we’ll do whatever we need to do to come back in good standing.”
“We’ll be working with the school and the Mississippi Theta chapter to put together a program that will help put us back into good standing,” Goodale continued. “We have to redouble our efforts to become good citizens and abide by the rules and regulations of our chapters.”
The chapter will be eligible for reinstatement after May 31, 2004. The release quoted White as saying that SAE members living in the fraternity house will be allowed to stay in university housing at a prorated rent rate. Four members and the housemother, Barbara Prine, will remain in the house to maintain and preserve the facility.
Ro Taylor, SAE chapter president, declined an interview request, saying he plans to release more information in the near future.
“We are currently still under discussion with the university regarding this matter, and it would be inappropriate for me to make any comments at this point in time,” Taylor said.