Student Organization Conduct

 5.03 - Physical Abuse

12.00- Hazing

23.00- Other Published Regulations

25.00- Violation of Law

The Office of Student Integrity received an incident report on Tuesday, March 8, 2022  related to a branding party involving Kappa Sigma Fraternity and Sigma Kappa Sorority members.

No findings or evidence of organizational hazing activity during the incident in question.

5.03- Physical Abuse

12.00- Hazing

23.00- Other Published Regulations

25.00- Violation of Law

 The Office of Student Integrity received an incident report on Tuesday, March 8, 2022  related to a branding party involving Kappa Sigma Fraternity and Sigma Kappa Sorority members.

No findings or evidence of organizational hazing activity during the incident in question.

2.03- Alcoholic Beverages- Furnishing and/or distributing alcoholic beverages to any student under legal drinking age.

On September 19, 2020, the UNG Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity co-hosted the Annual Snakebite Golf Fundraiser at the Achasta Golf Course in Dahlonega, Georgia with the Sigma Nu Alumni organization.  During this event, alcohol was  provided to underage members of the fraternity, with knowledge of fraternity and alumni leadership.  The fraternity failed to provide any safeguards or measures to prevent underage consumption of alcohol.

Conduct Probation for two years (ending May 15, 2023)

Prohibited from hosting or co-hosting ANY event with alcohol for a period of one year (ending May 15, 2022)

Required to complete all educational sanctions provided by the National Sigma Nu Headquarters.  These include various workshop and seminars, every member must complete AlcoholEDU for Sanctions, and various actions plans and changes to organizational programming.     

12.00 Hazing 

20.00 Corps of Cadets Regulation

23.00 Other Published Regulations

  A cadet member made an accusation that he and other members of the Unit were hazed through excessive exercise beyond what was acceptable within the Corps of Cadets for failing to meet proficiency standards of the Unit.  The investigation revealed other activities including underage consumption of alcohol, unauthorized off campus events, and demeaning/ racially charged skits were also being required of members by senior leadership.

The Unit was Suspended (October 2020- December 31, 2020) No current active member (Full Rifle) from Fall 2019 may return in Fall 2021. Virgin Rifles may petition directly to the Commandant for approval to rejoin the Unit. Any Virgin Rifle petitioning the Commandant, must have completed the Online Greek-Wise Hazing module prior to seeking reinstatement with the Unit. Anyone affiliated with the Blue Ridge Rifles in Fall 2019 should also repeat the alcohol education course prior to petitioning to rejoin the Unit. Please contact the Office of Student Integrity at integrity@ung.edu to receive instructions on how to complete the Greek-Wise and/or Alcohol Education courses.

An updated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual must be submitted and approved by the Commandant no later than December 31, 2020. Final plan will be reviewed by the VPSAEM.

A revised recruitment plan must be submitted and approved by the Commandant no later than December 31, 2020. Final plan will be reviewed by the VPSAEM.

Upon the organizations return to the University of North from suspension, the organization will be on conduct probation for 3.5 years from the data of the organizations return to campus. (1/1/2021)

The Commander of the Blue Ridge Rifles will work with other student leaders of the UNG Hazing Task Force to eradicate the culture of hazing at UNG as assigned by the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

12.00 Hazing

23.00 Violation of University Regulations

The fraternity violated 12.00 and 23.00 when 4 new Members were required to complete military style calisthenics for incorrectly answering questions regarding fraternity history and tradition.

This activity took place at a private party off campus.

Underage new members and older members were intoxicated throughout the activity. Some underage new members were provided “wet passes” by the fraternity leadership, indicating that they could consume alcohol without repercussions from the fraternity.

• 1-year Social Probation
• 2-years extended Conduct Probation (Ending October 2022)
• Educational Sanctions

2.03 Furnishing and/or providing alcoholic beverages to any student under legal age. 

23.00 Other Published Regulations

During an unregistered event at an off-campus location leased by several members of SAE, all 7 new members, several under the legal drinking age, were placed in an outdoor shed and required to consume a large amount of alcohol (a handle of vodka) in an extremely short period of time.  One new member consumed the majority of the alcohol. Subsequently this new member suffered severe alcohol poisoning. The Active Members initially attempted to take the new member to a local urgent care facility, however, once at the Urgent Care facility, staff immediately called an ambulance.

The new member was in the ICU but did survive. Members of the organization initially filed a false report to the university claiming this new member drank to the point of intoxication on his own at a party.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon was on Probation at the time of this incident.

2.03 Furnishing and/or providing alcoholic beverages to any student under legal age. 

12.00 Hazing

The sorority violated 2.03 and 12.00 when older members of Kappa Delta provided alcohol to 4 underage new members at an off-campus apartment where Kappa Delta members resided.

Video footage and pictures of members consuming alcohol via a “Shot-Ski” was shared on social media and subsequently brought to the attention of the University.

Kappa Delta was on Probation for hazing and misuse of alcohol at the time of this incident which violated the terms of their probation and subsequently led to the organization’s suspension.

The fraternity violated 2.02 when a member of Kappa Sigma brought alcohol to a formal recruitment event.

Other members present were aware of the alcohol and attempted to prevent the Interim FSL Director from finding said alcohol.

Members of Kappa Delta invited 8 new members to a party/gathering at an apartment leased by 3 members of Kappa Delta via the Kappa Delta GroupMe and word of mouth.

During this party/gathering, at least two (older) members of Kappa Delta taught a drinking game to the new members, which featured correctly reciting a song in a kneeling position.

If a new member missed a verse or otherwise made a mistake, she would drink alcohol from wine bottles handed to them by the two older Kappa Delta members and the game would resume until another mistake was made. This game lasted between 15 – 45 minutes.

• Social Probation (Ending Spring 2019)
• Conduct Probation from Summer 2019 through Summer 2020
• Educational Sanction

2.03 Furnishing Alcohol

23.00
Other Published Regulations

SAE fraternity violated 2.03 and 23.00 when they hosted a non-registered party during recruitment and SAE brothers provided 30 packs of beer a piece to share with anyone attending the party, including people underage the legal drinking age.

The fraternity acknowledged that even though one of membership knew they were not supposed have alcohol at a recruiting event and due to their national moratorium, they still hosted the party with alcohol because wanting to stay relevant as an organization.

• Social Probation 1-Year (Ending December 2018)
• Conduct Probation 1-Semester (from January 2019 through the end of Spring 2019)
• Educational Sanctions

The fraternity violated the hazing policy by placing new members of the fraternity in the hatch-back of a SUV, blind-folding them and taking them off campus for a late-night dinner at a local Waffle House.

• 1-Year Conduct Probation (ending May 12, 2019)
• Educational Sanctions

The fraternity violated 23.00 by sponsoring a party that was located at a house known to be affiliated with PIKE.

In addition, the fraternity made arrangements to pay for transportation to this event via Mama’s Taxi and alcohol was made available at the house via open coolers. New members were invited to this party via Group Text.

• Written Warning
• Educational Sanctions

5.03
Physical abuse

8.02
False information

12.00
Hazing

13.00
Joint Responsibility

23.00
Other Published Regulations

24.00 Violation of Conduct Sanction

New members were forced to do calisthenics, were doused with water if they answered questions incorrectly regarding brothers information, were blind-folded, were forced to eat items including hot sauces and hot dog buns with a full stick of butter, were made to believe they were being branded, only to be slapped on the butt, as well as other acts of physical and mental hazing.

All activities violated 5.03, 12.00, 13.00, 23.00 and 24.00. The fraternity violated 8.02 by providing false information during the course of the investigation process.

Chapter suspended effective May 1, 2017 to May 1, 2019.

2.02 Consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages at university-sponsored activities, except when authorized.

2.03
Furnishing and/or distributing alcoholic beverages to any student under legal    age

2.04
Being in an intoxicated condition as made manifest by disorderly, obscene, or indecent conduct or appearance. 

5.03
Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, bullying, harassment, coercion, or other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of another person or oneself.

12.00
Hazing includes any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off campus, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. See Hazing Policy for Student Groups.

23.00
Violation of university regulations and policies as approved and published by  various units of the university.

Sigma Nu violated Sections 5.03 and 12.00 of the UNG Student Code of Conduct by hazing recruits with its (i) driver program, (ii) line-ups, including embarrassment and ridicule, (iii) physical and mental discomfort, (iv) signature requirements, and requirements related to their (v) pledge books (the Hazing Charge).

Sigma Nu violated Sections 2.02, 2.03, and 2.04 of the UNG Student Code of Conduct by providing, consuming, and furnishing alcohol to underage recruits at university sponsored events or (ii) by being intoxicated (the Alcohol Charge).

The Student Organization has violated Sections 23.00 of the UNG Student Code of Conduct by violating other University policies and procedures (the Policies Charge). This included “wet” recruitment activities and inappropriate content in pledge books, specifically chants and songs degrading towards women.

08.02
False Information

12.00
Hazing

The fraternity engaged in a conspiracy to lie to the investigation team, blind-folded new members and put themselves in dangerous situations while the vehicles were in motion, engaged in servitude of active brothers, and conducted other acts of hazing to include forcing new members to drink concoctions that were unsafe, inedible, and unsanitary, military style calisthenics, and the verbal abuse of new members.

• Conduct Probation (Ending 5/13/2016)
• Educational Sanction(s)

8.02 False Information

12.00 Hazing

20.00 Corps of Cadets Regulations

The organization violated 12.00 when a new member of the organization reported that he was hazed, specifically required to do calisthenics outside of the unit’s standard parameters. 

After reporting the hazing, the new member was targeted, belittled, and retaliated against by more senior members. This also violated the 20.00 policy as this organization is under the Commandant’s Office.

• Chapter Suspension (Ending 8/1/2014)
• Suspension of recruitment until January 2015
• Conduct Probation for 5 years
• Educational Sanction(s)

Members violated the hazing policy by blind-folding their members at an outside venue; requiring their members to wear white sun dresses in freezing temperatures; placing various foods in members’ hands while active members played audio of a chicken dying; leading members to believe that chicken blood was being placed on their hands, when in reality it was pickle juice.