ASU's chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity is under investigation by university officials in regard to an alleged hazing incident.
A complaint was filed against Sigma Nu in December by a non-member of the organization, suggesting the fraternity had violated the ASU Student Code of Conduct.
Sigma Nu's liaison to its national office in Virginia said the alleged violation was related to hazing.
"We got caught red-handed with a hazing violation," said Mike Kasulaitis, the chapter advisor for Sigma Nu. "There is factual evidence that says 'this is what we were doing.'"
Kasulaitis would not give specifics about what transpired on the night of the alleged incident, but he added he "didn't think the allegations could be substantiated."
The complaint against Sigma Nu was received in December by Deborah Sullivan, the Assistant Dean of Student Judicial Affairs.
Sullivan said she is personally undertaking the majority of the investigation, but declined to comment on the nature of the alleged violation.
"I can't give details," Sullivan said. "We're in the investigative stage and there has been no determination."
Due to ASU's winter vacation, Sullivan's investigation was not wholly undertaken until the beginning of the spring semester. She has interviewed various members of Sigma Nu, but wouldn't specify how many.
Despite Kasulaitis's claim, Sullivan refused to indicate which section of the Student Code of Conduct had been allegedly violated by members of Sigma Nu. However, she explained the severity of a hazing violation.
"(ASU) takes hazing violations very seriously...if an organization is found guilty of hazing," Sullivan said.
Sigma Nu is currently under the control of their alumni while the complaint is being investigated and an unspecified number of members have been removed from the house at 601 Alpha Drive. The fraternity is unable to recruit new members until a decision is made by the university.
Kasulaitis said the members who were removed from the house were placed on "matriculated alumni status," which means they are not allowed to live in the fraternity house or participate in fraternity functions.
"A lot of it didn't have to do with the hazing," Kasulaitis said. "They just weren't benefiting the house."
Neither Sullivan nor Kasulaitis would indicate who filed the complaint against Sigma Nu.
Bob Francis, director of Greek Life, cautioned against presuming anything about Sigma Nu until a formal decision is issued by Sullivan's office.
"Until the investigation is completed, (Sigma Nu) isn't found guilty or innocent of anything," Francis said.
When asked if he was the non-member of Sigma Nu who filed the complaint in December, Francis said, "I cannot comment on that at this time."
"There are some obvious things we did wrong," Kasulaitis said. "A lot of people in nationals and in the university think (the alleged hazing violation) was a big deal. I thought it was a big deal."
Sigma Nu's national office is located in Lexington, Virginia. The fraternity was founded in 1869 at the Virginia Military Institute by three cadets who were opposed to school's hazing traditions.
Feb. 2, 2002-- Hazing accusations abound for Sigma Nu
