A letter from Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Charles Fey addressed to Chris Casini, President of the UMBC Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), revealed the details last Friday of a three-year suspension of the organization with the opportunity to lift the suspension if certain conditions are met.

The sanctions, which include removing and withdrawing all recognition of SAE as a student organization and prohibiting any and all activities of SAE, as well as a $750 fine and the suspension of three members for academic ineligibility, are in response to charges that the fraternity violated six different rules of the Code of Student Organization Conduct (CSOC). Though SAE appealed the rulings made first by the UMBC Hearing Board and later by the UMBC Apellate Board, Dr. Fey's review of the ruling finalized the sanctions.

At the hearing, Casini and SAE District President Jim Sakers admitted that SAE providing alcohol to minor prospective members at a recruiting event. Furthermore, the Hearing Board found sufficient evidence that the fraternity pledged students who were ineligible because of their academic standing.

Also, the letter explains that the board found evidence that SAE prospective and current members engaged in sexual acts with an exotic dancer and that SAE provided the financial means, and logistical arrangements, for this prostitution to occur.

The suspension prohibits SAE from meeting or assembling in the name of SAE on or off campus, holding parties or socials, wearing the fraternity letters or pins, and promoting or advertising SAE in any way.

Dr. Fey did modify the three-year suspension to allow SAE to attempt to return to UMBC as early as the Fall 2008 semester. If all conditions of the suspension must have been met the fraternity may file a petition to UMBC's Student Judicial Programs (SJP) outlining its interest in lifting the suspension, a response to the initial incidents, a plan for the future, and specific areas of growth that SAE has addressed during the suspension.

Additionally, before SAE can return to UMBC its current members and pledges must complete a special program designed by UMBC's Director of Human Relations Adrienne Mercer to address responsible alcohol use and appropriate rush and pledge practices for recruiting new members. The program will be financed for by SAE and its members.

At the time of printing, Vice President Dr. Fey and SAE President Casini could not be reached for comment.