SigEp closes chapter: UM fraternity shut down after drugging allegations and rape chant video surfaces
CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA: Sigma Phi Epsilon has closed its University of Miami chapter following allegations that its members drugged drinks and participated in derogatory chants at a rager earlier this month, New York Post reports. According to NBC South Florida, the SigEp chapter, which had been active on campus since 1949, shut down on Friday, October 7.
The fraternity was the subject of an investigation, according to the television station, after unidentified reports of spiked beverages and members singing a song about committing crimes and violence against women in a disturbing video before the party surfaced.
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The Florida Gamma chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon is well-known for its wild parties. The fraternity hosted a party, which they called, "Adult Swim" on October 1 in Coral Gables.
The Miami Hurricane, a student newspaper, obtained the video but chose not to publish it. Members were heard chanting that rape victims should be kept in "wooden boxes." Many of the young women who attended the party later reported feeling sick. One person, who gave her name only as Aby, told the newspaper that she noticed foam in her drink at the party. She said, "Me and my other friend had like white powder in our drinks. I hadn’t seen that before." Two female students revealed to the media that they thought they may have been drugged after discovering white powder on their drinks. according to student reporter Patrick McCaslin, who broke the news, "They heard of other people only having a couple of drinks and then vomiting uncontrollably or falling asleep."
A video of the ugly chant has since been removed from social media, but it reached the senior management of the fraternity. Heather Matthews, chief communication officer at Sigma Phi Epsilon stated to NBC South Florida. "The National Headquarters received admissible information that SigEp members violated policy and engaged in actions that are not aligned with the values of this Fraternity. He added, "We expect SigEp chapters to provide their members and campus community a safe and supportive environment. That’s the cornerstone of a positive Fraternity and university experience, so we take that expectation seriously and hold our chapters to that standard."
In response to the accusations the fraternity is facing, the University of Miami sent 7News the following statement that reads, "UM continually communicates a clear set of policies and expectations to all of our greek organizations that are designed to encourage a safe, healthy, and positive experience for UM students. We have partnered with Sigma Phi Epsilon for 73 years, and we support their decision to close the chapter effective immediately." Information regarding these students' potential charges and what academic discipline they could face is yet to be known.