letter regarding expelled boulder fraternity chapters

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 1 Undergraduate Interfraternity Council at the University of Colorado, Inc. www.ColoradoIFC.org July 28, 2015 TO: University of Colorado Panhellenic Council o Laura Armstrong, President o CU Panhellenic Executive Board o CU Panhellenic Sorority Presidents Ladies and Colleagues in CU Greek Life: I am writing to you on behalf of The Undergraduate Interfraternity Council at the University of Colorado, Inc. (“IFC”) and our fifteen member fraternity chapters. The entire IFC Executive Board and all of the chapter presidents, who are listed below, endorse the request in this letter.  As you know , neither the Zeta Delta Ch apter of Sigma Pi Fraternity n or the Gamma Tau Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity are members of IFC. After numerous violations and sanctions over a considerable period of time, both chapters were expelled from membership in the IFC by Judicial Board action. While I am not allowed to discuss the specifics of those violations and sanctions, I can tell you that many of those violations and sanctions involved concerns for the safety and welfare of both chapter members and guests in their chapter houses and at their functions. I am sure that both Sigma Pi and Kappa Sigma have local risk management policies. I also know that these fraternities were all supposed to follow the terms and conditions of FIPG, as well as having rules which should govern those chapters and their activities. Obviously, these policies, or the standards of the members who were supposed to uphold those policies, were not sufficient to prevent the incidents that led to each chapter’s expulsion from IFC. More importantly, neither the Zeta Delta Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity nor the Gamma Tau Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity is required to follow the expectations and standards of the Boulder fraternity community as governed by the IFC. There is no oversight of either chapter or their members from the IFC. These chapters are not accountable for following our Constitution and Bylaws, especially those established to direct Social Events and Safe Chapters. We are acutely aware that any significant “incident” at either Sigma Pi or Kappa Sigma will result in significant repercussions for the entire CU Greek community both women and men. Given recent events around the country, we have no doubt that the significance ” of IFC membership or the fact that those two chapters were expelled from

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Letter Regarding Expelled Chapters

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    Undergraduate Interfraternity Council at the University of Colorado, Inc.

    www.ColoradoIFC.org

    July 28, 2015 TO: University of Colorado Panhellenic Council

    o Laura Armstrong, President o CU Panhellenic Executive Board o CU Panhellenic Sorority Presidents

    Ladies and Colleagues in CU Greek Life: I am writing to you on behalf of The Undergraduate Interfraternity Council at the University of Colorado, Inc. (IFC) and our fifteen member fraternity chapters. The entire IFC Executive Board and all of the chapter presidents, who are listed below, endorse the request in this letter. As you know, neither the Zeta Delta Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity nor the Gamma Tau Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity are members of IFC. After numerous violations and sanctions over a considerable period of time, both chapters were expelled from membership in the IFC by Judicial Board action. While I am not allowed to discuss the specifics of those violations and sanctions, I can tell you that many of those violations and sanctions involved concerns for the safety and welfare of both chapter members and guests in their chapter houses and at their functions. I am sure that both Sigma Pi and Kappa Sigma have local risk management policies. I also know that these fraternities were all supposed to follow the terms and conditions of FIPG, as well as having rules which should govern those chapters and their activities. Obviously, these policies, or the standards of the members who were supposed to uphold those policies, were not sufficient to prevent the incidents that led to each chapters expulsion from IFC. More importantly, neither the Zeta Delta Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity nor the Gamma Tau Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity is required to follow the expectations and standards of the Boulder fraternity community as governed by the IFC. There is no oversight of either chapter or their members from the IFC. These chapters are not accountable for following our Constitution and Bylaws, especially those established to direct Social Events and Safe Chapters. We are acutely aware that any significant incident at either Sigma Pi or Kappa Sigma will result in significant repercussions for the entire CU Greek communityboth women and men. Given recent events around the country, we have no doubt that the significance of IFC membership or the fact that those two chapters were expelled from

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    membership will be lost on the media as well as most people in the greater CU and Boulder communities and beyond. After consultations with our Greek Advocate, the Alumni Interfraternity Council at the University of Colorado, Inc., our legal counsel, and contact with the National Panhellenic Council, the CU IFC respectfully requests that the CU Panhellenic Council and its member sororities NOT participate in any activities or events with the Zeta Delta Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity and or the Gamma Tau Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity nor any other social fraternity which is not a member-in-good-standing of IFC. Additionally, we hope that you appreciate and understand the reason why a chapter is expelled from IFC. That is the most severe penalty that the IFC can impose and expulsion is only rendered after all other options have failed. The underlying premise is that the chapter and its members are so hopelessly entangled in their problematic behaviors that no time period of probation, nor any amount of sanctions or probation terms would be able to fix the existing problems. The period of expulsion is several years, which should be sufficient for all members of the chapter to graduate and/or leave the University of Colorado. That period is consistent with the generally accepted practice from fraternity and sorority headquarters when closing a chapter. If a chapter continues operations as a rogue or underground chapter, during a period of expulsion, the period of time of unauthorized operations will be added to the period of expulsion in order to deliver an adequate period of time for the taint of the chapters offenses to expire.

    Ladies, we understand that your first responsibility and concern as Panhellenic leaders is exactly the same as our concern as IFC leaders, e.g., the safety and well-being of our respective members and those who interact with them. Our request that your chapters not participate in any activities or events with Sigma Pi Fraternity and or Kappa Sigma is not vindictive nor punitive. These non-member groups have chosen their own courseand it is different from ours. They are responsible for their futuresbut their actions can impact members of both our Councils and all of our Sisters and Brothers. We would be happy to discuss this with you in any format you wish. That being said, we are eagerly awaiting your response. Regards, Kevin Kevin Zell, President Undergraduate Interfraternity Council at the University of Colorado, Inc.

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    Signed, IFC Executive Board:

    VP of Internal Relations: Erik Ringler

    VP of External Relations: Reilly Anderson

    VP of Finance & Operations: Zach Stein

    Chief Justice, Judicial: Brian DeMocker

    VP Philan&Comm Service: Jake Refojo

    VP of Communications: Kellen Kopf

    Director Recruitment: Richard Noack

    Director Technology: Patrick Normile

    Director Academics: Chris Coffman

    Director Athletics and Brian Schulze Sportsmanship: Signed, IFC Chapter Presidents: .

    Acacia, CO Chapter: Jackson Wolfe

    Alpha Epsilon Pi, Chi Upsilon Chapter: Josh Volin

    Alpha Gamma Omega, Xi Chapter Alex Falconburg

    Alpha Phi Delta, Delta Chi Chapter: Jason Zimmet

    Alpha Sigma Phi, Pi Chapter Noah Stein

    Chi Psi, Alpha Psi Delta Chapter Taylor TJ Hall

    Phi Kappa Psi, CO Alpha Chapter Andrew Chalfen

    Phi Kappa Tau, Psi Chapter August Truesdale

    Pi Kappa Phi, Eta Gamma Chapter Garrison Quinn

    Sigma Alpha Epsilon, CO Chi Chapter Jack Mertens

    Sigma Nu, Gamma Kappa Chapter Dean Alibrandi

    Sigma Phi Epsilon, CO Alpha Chapter Dylan Shriner

    Tau Kappa Epsilon, Gamma Iota Chapter Nick Diana

    Theta Xi, Alpha Eta Chapter: Chris Matthews

    Zeta Beta Tau, Beta Alpha Theta Chapter Hunter Bonge