Sigma Chi suspended for one year

Pitt’s largest fraternity will not be here next year – at least not officially.

As… Pitt’s largest fraternity will not be here next year – at least not officially.

As punishment for a charge of institutional vandalism, Sigma Chi will not be officially recognized by the University next year while the fraternity serves a one-year suspension.

Sigma Chi risk management chair and Student Government Board member Pat Creighton said that the suspension is the result of an incident in late January. After coming back from a party, according to Creighton, several brothers were running around outside the house. Pitt police officers arrived on the scene to find one of the house’s rooms in disarray.

“A couple of brothers got a little out of hand,” Creighton said, adding that all involved were being brought up on charges for individual punishment internally.

Creighton said the original punishment had been more severe, but that an appeal to Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Dean of Students Jack Daniel resulted in a reduced suspension and permission to stay in the on-campus housing next year.

“We were wrong, we’re not denying the fact that we were wrong.” Creighton said, but added, “I think the crime didn’t fit the punishment.

He said several other fraternities have been cited for institutional vandalism and “they’re still here.”

“There are fraternities that have done things a lot worse than us,” he said.

Creighton pointed to the newly released Greek life report, which suggests that on-campus fraternities have graduate assistants, and said that, if Sigma Chi had a graduate assistant in the house, the incident might not have occurred.

“Maybe if we had something of that nature in our house, this never would have happened,” Creighton said, adding that, with the loss of former Greek adviser Sharon Malazich and former Director of Student Activities Joe Cavalla, Student Life is moving “in a new direction” with regard to Greek life.

“They basically cut two steps out of the whole process,” he said.

Director of Student Life Birney Harrigan said that the matter was confidential and that she could not comment on it.

Interfraternity Council President Keith Mineo said the Greek community will miss “one of the top fraternities on campus,” and said that he was surprised that the University had reacted so strongly.

“I’m surprised they got in so much trouble for that,” he said.

Sigma Chi has raised $76,202 for charity during the last five years and is a member of the Make A Wish Foundation inner circle, along with organizations such as Mellon Bank, Heinz and PNC Bank that contribute more than an average of $10,000 per year. It has also won the Cathedral Award, given to the most outstanding fraternity and sorority on campus, two of the last five years.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we have 104 brothers,” Creighton said, adding that Sigma Chi would continue its fund raising while on suspension. “I’m just disappointed that we’re not going to be around for Greek Week or any of the philanthropic [activities].”

Sigma Chi president Brian Butler could not be reached for comment.