Sigma Alpha Mu's national office has ordered its University of Michigan chapter to suspend all activities for an indefinite period of time following a weekend of vandalism at a northern Michigan ski resort on Jan. 17-18.

The university released a statement Thursday evening saying that the SAM national office's suspension includes all meetings, chapter events, philanthropy, recruitment, candidate education, social activities and other Greek life activities on the Ann Arbor campus.

The suspension comes after the group caused extensive damage to about 40 rooms at Treetops Resorts in Gaylord. Damages included broken doors, furniture and fixtures, trashing of carpet and other facilities, and broken electronics, and an initial guess estimated damages at about $50,000.

The general manager of the facility called it the worst bout of vandalism that he's seen in his three-plus decades in the hospitality industry.

On the same weekend, several fraternities and sororities were also accused of causing extensive damage at Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs.

Like the case at Treetops, several U-M students ruined furniture and fixtures and trashed 12 condominium units at the resort, causing thousands of dollars in damages.

U-M spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said that U-M Greek organizations were involved with the destruction.

The organizations at Treetops Resorts were Sigma Alpha Mu and the sorority Sigma Delta Tau. The fraternities at Boyne Highlands were Pi Kappa Alpha and Chi Psi, while the sororities were Delta Gamma and Alpha Phi.

Fitzgerald said that the university's Office of Greek Life is requesting indefinite suspension from the national chapters for each organization involved.

"The entire University of Michigan community is deeply saddened by the actions of some of our students last weekend at two northern Michigan ski resorts," he said.

"The damaged caused by out-of-control students fueled by excessive alcohol consumption at Treetops Resort and Boyne Highlands is an affront to the thousands of respectful, hard-working students on our campus."

The executive boards of the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association on the Ann Arbor campus have initiated their own reviews of this situation that could lead to sanctions against the fraternity and sorority chapters.

Michigan State Police Sgt. Jeff Gorno said that the investigation is ongoing at Treetops.

"They're looking at filing some charges, but the report needs to be finished first with names and all that and they'll make the decision there at the prosecutor's office," Gorno said.

"Something like that, with that many people, it's difficult to come up with the individuals responsible."

MSP officials said no arrests were made at the scene because they were called to Treetops at 8:30 a.m. Sunday after the damage had been done. Officials added that they were not going to arrest anyone in particular "just because they're in the hallway or in an adjoining room" without any evidence pointing to the individuals most responsible for the damage.

Bobby Dishell, U-M's student body president, said it's unfortunate that the incidents occurred, and it will, of course, have a negative effect on the image of Greek Life at Michigan.

"As a proud member of a Greek organization, I know that Greek Life does an amazing job of handling matters internally. They ensure that proper ramifications occur that leave an impact and educate the organization and its members," he said.

"I have full faith that this year's leadership will also be successful in navigating this hurdle. The Greek community at Michigan has been one of the most formative parts of my experience at Michigan. I look forward to our working through this difficulty and continuing to provide the great services to the community at large that Greek life and its members do."

Joshua Kaplan, the president of the SAM Michigan chapter, on Wednesday issued an emailed apology to the resort.

"We are embarrassed and ashamed of the behavior of a few of our chapter members at Treetops Resort over the weekend of January 17-18. This behavior is inconsistent with the values, policies and practices of this organization," he wrote in the statement.

"Our chapter accepts full responsibility for this incident and we will be working with the management of the resort to pay for all damages and cleaning costs. We will work within our own organization and with university officials to hold those who are responsible accountable for their actions."

Jeremy Allen is the University of Michigan reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Follow him on twitter at @JeremyAllenA2. Contact him at 810-247-4625 or jallen42@mlive.com. Find other University of Michigan-related stories here on MLive.com.