UCI Expels Fraternity Over Alleged Violations

The Sigma Pi fraternity at UC Irvine has been expelled from campus for three years after the fraternity racked up several violations of school policy, including illegal distribution of alcohol and disruption of residence halls, university officials said Tuesday.

It is only the second time in UCI’s history that a fraternity has been expelled.

The most serious of the allegations, which took place during UCI’s Welcome Week the last week of September, involved Sigma Pi members arranging for a limousine to take a student to a fraternity party in Newport Beach.

The student reportedly drank an excessive amount of alcohol at the party before being driven back to UCI. After a written complaint by the student’s mother and other accusations by dormitory staff and residents against the 3-year-old fraternity, UCI Judicial Affairs Officer Kelly Willis asked a grievance board to determine whether charges should be filed.

The board charged the fraternity with unauthorized entry into residence halls and disrupting university social events to solicit potential members, which is against university policy. Sigma Pi was also charged with failing to heed warnings, threatening the safety of the student who allegedly drank too much and the distributing alcohol unlawfully.

The board recommended expelling Sigma Pi from campus and informed fraternity President James Ipek of its decision in an Oct. 27 letter. All 35 members of the fraternity were placed on disciplinary probation for one year, which can result in their being expelled from school if probation is violated. Six executive officers of the fraternity will be required to complete 40 hours of community service.

“The basic driver in the expulsion was the seriousness of the incident and the related issues surrounding it,” said Randy Lewis, UCI’s associate dean of students.

“We had students who were ignoring requests by university officials. They had been informed of their infractions in advance. University policy was seriously violated, and the matter was dealt with administratively.”

Lewis said it is rare for a fraternity to be expelled from a university. Four years ago, Sigma Chi was removed from campus because “the fraternity owed tremendous debts to the university and it looked like there was no way the fraternity would be able to pay those debts,” he said.

John Merino, Sigma Pi chapter advisor, said fraternity members’ rights have been violated by the expulsion.

“The lack of due process really bothers me,” Merino said, adding that the fraternity members were placed on the one-year disciplinary probation without the university “ever informing either them or their parents before taking the action. And one particular student was out of the country during the time period that the incidents supposedly took place.”

Merino also said the fraternity was given no chance to defend itself during the disciplinary proceedings.

“This was a witch hunt. The university just arbitrarily placed everyone on disciplinary probation. There was a hearing with UCI officials and the president of Sigma Pi. They didn’t allow any other fraternity members to attend, and no witnesses were brought forth.”

Sigma Pi fraternity member Joe Hoferer said the punishment was unduly harsh.

“A three-year expulsion?” he said. “Come on. This is just incredibly severe. We’re just being made an example of. It’s ridiculous.”

Merino said Sigma Pi will appeal its case this week to Manuel Gomez, vice chancellor of student services at UCI.

“Of all the groups I’ve ever been affiliated with, this is not the one I would ever expect to be in any kind of trouble,” Merino said. “They always follow the rules. I’m just amazed that this happened and that the punishment does not fit the crime. There must be something more to this [expulsion] that we are not aware of. There has to be.”

Ipek, Sigma Pi’s president, said he was “shocked and saddened” by the university’s action.

“It has not been proven that this student got drunk at our party. He could have obtained alcohol anywhere. Now, I do think universities have to set an example, but the example has to be right. This one isn’t right.”