SDSU Puts Fraternity on Probation in Wake of Assault Allegations

A San Diego State University fraternity was placed on probation until the end of the year after a university investigation determined that the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity violated five SDSU violations relating to a March 6 party, the school announced Wednesday.

Questions about the affair arose after a 19-year-old woman attending the gathering told authorities she was later sexually assaulted by a man she had met at the party. But university officials Wednesday strongly denied that their investigation into the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity’s activities, initiated more than two weeks ago, was related to the rape charge.

“We got a police report totally separate from the rape (allegation),” said Doug Case, an SDSU fraternity adviser. Case said that police went to stop the party before the alleged rape occurred. “The campus police stopped two minors; one of them was a 17-year-old non-student. I’m not sure if he was drunk in public or had a beer in his hand. But the campus police were led to the home and closed it down,” he said.

Activities Suspended

Case said that, in addition to being placed on probation by the university, the national organization of Alpha Tau Omega, which oversees their fraternity chapters nationwide, has suspended all of the fraternity’s social activities pending results of their own investigation.

Of the five violations, the most serious one, according to the five-member Interfraternity Council Judicial Board, was providing alcoholic beverages to minors.

Alpha Tau Omega President Victor Sack said the group declined to contest any of the allegations, but added that “we know that we didn’t intentionally do anything wrong. It was a chain of events which led to an overall bad event.”

The other university and IFC rules that the board determined were violated included:

- Failing to provide an adequate supply of non-alcoholic beverages to fraternity members and guests.

- Conducting an open party at which alcoholic beverages were served to fraternity members and invited guests for recruitment purposes.

- Failing to limit admission to SDSU students and invited guests.

- Including illustrations depicting alcoholic beverages in their advertisement for the party.

University regulations stipulate that fraternities and sororities may serve alcoholic beverages only to SDSU fraternity and sorority members and invited guests who are 21 or older.

Administration Agrees

The SDSU administration agreed Monday to the penalties issued against the fraternity. Under the penalty, the fraternity may still hold parties serving alcoholic beverages as long as it does not distribute liquor during rush week.

Among other penalties assessed against Alpha Tau Omega are: that the fraternity sponsor and pay up to $500 for educational seminars on legal responsibilities; and that members will be required to attend the sessions that are optional for other sororities and fraternities.

Further, the fraternity will pay a fine of $180 for the violations, the most the board has the authority to impose, and members will be required to perform 100 hours of community service work.