Sigma Phi Epsilon is not an active chapter on campus. Theres a lot of different facets of why alcohol or drugs are involved in a case, but it is a trend that we see, that a lot of these cases do have some type of a correlation with alcohol or drug use.. facebook Seventeen cases had investigations stall because the victims did not want to pursue an investigation. For questions or to report incidents of hazing, please contact ShirDonna Lawrence Director for Fraternity & Sorority Life via email at lawre396@msu.eduor via phone at 517-884-4070. He was very charismatic, that is something that I do admire.. Now, more than seven months later, he's back home in Minnesota with his family. Support student media! Their (number one) priority was our safety.. More info: The regulations apply to students and student groups while on the land governed by the Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, when students or student groups are engaged in University-sponsored or student group-sponsored (student governing groups and registered student organizations) activities off campus, or when the conduct of a student poses a clear and present danger to the health or safety of person or property. One, Philip Jeon, responded and said that everything the pledges did was completely voluntary. MSU Counseling and Psychiatric Services counselors are moving to Akers Hall, Brody Square and Shaw Hall private dining rooms to provide services. The student, identified as Phat Nguyen by the Ingram County Medical Examiner's Office, was found unresponsive around 2 a.m. on Saturday at a residence several blocks from the East Lansing school, according to police. The Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Health Promotion staff offers educational sessions for students concerned about their own alcohol and other drug use or that of a friend or family member. Hazing is illegal in Michigan under Garret's Law. To visit the website, please go to the, Counseling and Psychiatric Services website, https://ossa.msu.edu/hazing-information-and-resources. Laying on two of the bare twin-sized mattresses, placed on either side of the room, were three out of the four Pi Alpha Phi fall 2021 newly initiated brothers. The fraternity chapter has since been disbanded. It just happened to be that people would go down there, I guess take photos, go back up, dance, party, get bored, go back down there.. Early that Friday morning, the Asian American interest fraternity made a Facebook post welcoming four pledges into their fall 2021 class, including Nguyen. Michigan State University removed the organization's registered student organization status and suspended its charter for at least 10 years in December, while the Pi Alpha Phi National Board closed the chapter. The State News reached out to national headquarters, MSU chapters and university Greek Life officials for comment on the alleged sexual assaults. Olsen told the newspaper that university officials suspended the Pi Alpha Phi chapter pending further investigation, meaning the Greek organization must cease from recruiting new members and is barred from hosting campus-related events. The charges recently were filed in connectionwitha Nov. 20 party that ended with the 21-year-old student's death, and three other pledging fraternity membershospitalized due to alcohol consumption. A lot of these reports are made to the police after the fact. Our brothers accept the responsibility to participate in society as active and safe citizens, and having that social responsibility in the integrity," Schwartz said. Hazing can include, but is not limited to, activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance that subjects the individual to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the physical health or safety of the individual, according to the code. Phat Nguyen died early Nov.20, 2021, at 413 Stoddard Ave.in East Lansing. The Fraternity and Sorority Life staff will do our absolute best to help you and your chapter access to the resources, support or care you may need. The witness recount and students reports. "We are heartbroken by this loss to our Spartan community and our thoughts and prayers are with the student's family and friends," Dan Olsen, a spokesperson for the university, told the Lansing State Journal. The Facebook post included several photos of brothers standing in front of the Pi Alpha Phi house with large green and white Greek letters propped up behind them. When youre looking at the numbers themselves, certainly that shows a spike, Gonzalez said. The Zeta Beta Tau page has already been taken down from the University of Michigan's Greek life website. Please join us in sending your love and support to members of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and all those who knew and loved Brian. ", The prosecutor's office said its investigation is ongoing and "if appropriate will file additional charges.". ", In surveillance footage taken inside the frat house shortly after 9 p.m. on Oct. 19, pledges can be seen blindfolded and led downstairs for a ritual known as "pledge dad reveal night.". In only two cases, the accused was known to have consumed alcohol, but this is usually harder to prove, Gonzalez said. At the end of the day you could be saving someones life and that is more important.. People are outside a lot. At nearly 12:30 a.m., alone on the sofa, he begins to slip onto the floor as the minutes tick by and he struggled to move. Editor's note: If a student needs support services, reach out to MSU Counseling and Psychiatric Services, or CAPS, to schedule individual counseling sessions or call CAPS crises services that can be reached at (517) 355-8270 and are available to students 24/7/365. Nguyen's death appears to have come a day after the MSU Pi Alpha Phi chapter listed him on its Facebook page as one of four students who had just joined the fraternity. Alleged cases were also reported in January, September, October and November. Hazing means an intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person acting alone or acting with others that is directed against an individual and that the person knew or should have known endangers the physical health or safety of the individual, and that is done for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization, according to the Michigan Penal Code. Their preliminary exams are slated for June 23,Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mike Cheltenham said. Representatives said fraternities have specific measures to prevent misconduct. There have been more than 50 hazing-related deaths, and far more uncounted injuries, since 2000. The family of a University of Missouri student who nearly died while pledging a fraternity is speaking out to help ensure that no one else experiences their pain. According to the student, stripping down the pledges to their shorts and having writing in marker on their body is a Pi Alpha Phi tradition. MSU's official hazing prevention statement says Greek Life is meant to be a safe, positive, and educational part of the university experience and that hazing is contradictory to the values held by fraternities and sororities. Misconduct related to the following areas can be reported through the hotline: fiscal, conflicts of interest, employment, medical/HIPAA, research, safety, athletics, discrimination/harassment, privacy, retaliation, and any other issue that does not fit another category. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Phat Nguyen died from acute alcohol consumption after attending off-campus party in East Lansing, Michigan, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. The room looked like it was rotting and there were a couple of mattresses on the ground, super dirty.. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. At this party, the victims had alcohol poured down their throats and drank until incapacitated. Greek Life is also partnered with MSU's Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Prevention Program, Alexander said. They did not see the fourth pledge in the basement room, the witnesses confirmed. "And that's an image that will probably never leave my head. In addition, Michigan State has a strict zero-tolerance policy towards hazing. Hazing Prevention 101 Course Resources New Membership Paperwork . Three of theindividuals received medical care at Sparrow Hospital and werereleased. The three accused former frat boys, who are facing up to 15 years in jail and a fine up to $10,000, are not enrolled in MSU for the fall, the Lansing State Journal reported. Nguyens autopsy report was released recently and said the leading factor of death was confirmed as alcohol intoxication. The charge became law in 2004 with Michigans passage of Senate Bill 0783, which prohibited the hazing of an individual by someone affiliated with an educational institution. The Santulli family and their lawyer are fighting to make a difference. We notify the university of the incident so that they can on their end, provide some resources and care to the victim as well.. These actions led to the hospitalization of (three) crossing members and the death of (one).. At Michigan State University we are dedicated to the health, safety and well being of all our members, students, and staff. Michigan State University shares the same sentiments. Pi Alpha Phi's national board confirmed to the State Journal in an email that its "Michigan State University chapter has been placed under interim suspension pending investigation upon the death of a student member last weekend.". Phat Nguyen died from acute alcohol consumption after attending an off-campus party in East Lansing, Michigan, at the now-disbanded Pi Alpha Phi fraternitys house. MSU has a sexual assault program which "responds to those impacted by sexual violence and works to create a community free of violence and oppression," according to its website. To visit the website, please go to theMSU Misconduct Hotline. His mother and sister Meredith agreed. The men were released on $5,000 personal recognizance bonds. The services are guided by a belief that students are capable of making wise, well-informed decisions about alcohol and drugs when provided the information, education, and support necessary to do so. "That being said, the Beta Epsilon chapter like all other chapters of Zeta Beta Tau, have a zero tolerance policy towards sexual assault/sexual harassment being committed by brothers of the fraternity. If you decide to report, please be as specific as possible including organizations involved, date of incident and time, location, people involved, etc.
