Two Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) chapters – one at the University of Iowa (UI) and one at the College of Charleston – are facing disciplinary actions for allegedly hazing their pledges.
UI’s SAE chapter was placed on interim suspension by the Office of Student Accountability in November, reports the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
The allegations at UI were reported via an anonymous email saying that students were in the basement of the SAE chapter house. A video included in the email showed multiple students performing exercises at the command of other fraternity members.
Related Article: 56 University of Iowa Alpha Delta Phi Pledges Found Blindfolded in Basement
In addition to engaging in “misconduct on organizational property,” the fraternity house was also found to possibly be in violation of city fire code.
This isn’t the first time the SAE chapter has been disciplined by the university. It had just been reinstated in the spring of 2024 following its removal in 2018 for alcohol and other violations, reports the Gazette. UI’s SAE chapter was also removed from campus in 2012 when the national fraternity cancelled its charter. Prior to the chapter’s charter cancellation, UI had been investigating it since 2008 and 2009 for hazing.
In 2015, Iowa State revoked its SAE chapter, and the national council suspended that chapter for at least four years.
UI’s SAE chapter currently has 18 members.
College of Charleston’s SAE Chapter Closed
Meanwhile, in Charleston, S.C., the College of Charleston’s SAE chapter was shut down January 10 following numerous student conduct violations since at least 2013, reports CountOn2. SAE had two conduct violations last fall: one allegedly involving alcohol and one allegedly involving hazing.
Related Article: San Diego State Fraternity Pledge Set on Fire, 4 Members Charged
In November 2023, the chapter was placed on probation for hazing. SAE’s national headquarters investigated the incident but didn’t share the report with the college. Then in April 2024, the chapter was investigated again for damaging property.
Stop Campus Hazing Act Went Into Effect Jan. 1
The crackdowns of the two SAE chapters follow the passage of the Stop Campus Hazing Act in December.
The law went into effect January 1 and requires institutions of higher education to include hazing statistics in their annual security reports that are published every October 1. It also requires the implementation of hazing policies, including those specific to hazing prevention, as well as the compilation of a campus hazing transparency report.
To help college campus administrators learn how to comply with the new law, Campus Safety is hosting “Clery Compliance: Preparing and Planning for the Stop Campus Hazing Act” on February 6. For more information and to register for the free webinar, click here. After February 6, 2025, the presentation will be available on demand. The new law and how to comply with it will also be covered in this summer’s Campus Safety Conference being held in Austin, Texas, July 21-23. For more information about the CSC 2025, visit CampusSafetyConference.com.
