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EDUCATION: CSU, Chico suspends social Greek organizations
CHICO, Calif. – In the wake of a fatal alcohol overdose by one of its students, on Thursday California State University, Chico said it would immediately suspend all social Greek letter organizations on campus until further notice.
Chico State President Paul Zingg made the announcement in a noon meeting with approximately 400 fraternity and sorority members in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium on the CSU, Chico campus.
Earlier in the day, the Chico Police Department had reported that the death of 21-year-old Chico State student Mason Lee Sumnicht was believed to have resulted from alcohol poisoning.
Sumnicht, who reportedly had been pledging the Sigma Pi fraternity, had been celebrating his 21st birthday on the night of Nov. 3 at a number of downtown bars. Just before 1:30 a.m. Nov. 4 firefighters and police were dispatched to the 400 block of Hazel Street where they found him unresponsive, police said.
He was hospitalized and reported to be in stable and critical condition. On Thursday the Chico Police Department said it had been notified of his death.
Vice President for Student Affairs Drew Calandrella, who along with Zingg addressed the students at the Thursday meeting, said a number of serious incidents had taken place involving Greek chapters in 2012, including alcohol policy violations, allegations of hazing, alleged assaults and other violations of rules governing Greek life on campus.
While he said some of the fraternities and sororities were “exemplars,” the behavior of others reflected poorly on the entire Greek system and the University as a whole.
The university has approximately 1,200 students in 26 social Greek organizations. The university’s fall 2012 enrollment is 16,470 students.
CSU, Chico said it will communicate with fraternities and sororities at the beginning of the spring 2013 semester about new guidelines chapters must meet to be considered for reinstatement.
Until that time, campus fraternities and sororities may not hold any activities or events and must remove or cover up the Greek letters on their chapter houses.
On Thursday Zingg described in stark terms the dangers of binge drinking, out of control parties and treatment of chapter recruits that constitutes hazing. He said recent examples of these behaviors had tarnished the Greek system on campus and necessitated the suspension of all chapters.
“We need to re-set, review and think about our future together,” Zingg said. “The system has to rise or fall on the commitment of its members.”
Calandrella and Zingg used the analogy of the airline industry, where one serious aircraft problem means the fleet must be grounded until the problem is assessed.
Calandrella said he understood some students were upset about the decision. “I’m asking all of you to reflect on what you stand for,” he said, both as individuals and as organizations. “The question to ask is: Are you committed?”
Calandrella said Student Affairs staff had spoken fraternity and sorority leadership earlier this year warning them that serious violations occurring could bring changes for Greek chapters on campus.
Calandrella said he anticipated some top-flight chapters might not have difficulty meeting new strict guidelines for reinstatement. Regarding other chapters being reinstated, he said, “Some won’t come back – some won’t choose to come back.”
Zingg said he wants a Greek presence on campus, and told the students he was a 45-year member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
“I follow them with pride,” he said. But fraternities and sororities must live up to their charters, which stand for scholarship, civility, brotherhood and other values that the University also shares.
“Like it or not, you are leaders on this campus,” he said.