6 UNR frats lose university recognition for not agreeing to new rules

Six fraternities have until 5 p.m. Thursday to sign an agreement with the University of Nevada, Reno or lose recognition status for the rest of 2018.

Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Alpha Order, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Theta Chi and Zeta Psi did not sign a 2018 UNR Relationship Agreement that requires fraternities to hire a live-in adviser and submit a report of every incident at the end of each semester to university officials.

All 33 fraternities and sororities recognized by UNR as of last semester had until Jan. 22 to agree to new terms. The six that did not sign have already been removed from UNR's office of fraternity and sorority life website and have been operating from the start of the spring semester as disaffiliated organizations, meaning they are no longer associated with the university including its rules or campus events.

"These policies are about prioritizing the health and safety of our students," said UNR's Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Megan Pepper.

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In 2016 and 2017, seven fraternities were found in violation of university policies. All seven involved alcohol, and two fraternities were suspended. Others faced sanctions that included not being allowed to accept new members, additional education requirements and disciplinary probation.

Pepper said the new policies weren't a direct result of any recent issues but were put in place to protect the safety of students.

Sigma Nu Fraternity lost recognition for 15 years following the death of pledge Ryan Abele in October 2016. Abele, 18, fell on a staircase at the fraternity house after a night of partying, according to a police investigation.

Sigma Alpha Epision lost recognition until May 31, 2021 for alcohol use and endangering the health and safety of others.

"I think these new policies are to address what isn't seen behind closed doors," said Tristan San Luis, president of the student-run Interfraternity Council. The council's purpose is to coordinate the philanthropic and recruitment efforts of fraternities.

"I think these are the right steps to fixing problems we have had in the past," he said.

New agreement

The 2018 agreement mandated by UNR has four new regulations, including that each sorority and fraternity turn over to the university a comprehensive report involving all incidents each semester.

Currently, most infractions are handled by a review board through a national sorority or fraternity organization.

Pepper said this new policy allows the university to better help students who may be facing issues such as academic struggles or substance abuse.

"We have a lot of good resources for students," she said.

She said it also allows university officials to better understand what the needs of students may be by having these reports each semester.

Pepper said every fraternity and sorority that has a facility must hire a live-in adviser prior to the 2020.

She said this also allows for students to have an adult who can help offer guidance or available in emergencies.

Other new rules also include barring any participating in an activity with a student organization or club that is not recognized by the university and mandating that every off-campus activity be registered and reviewed by an advisory board at least two weeks before the event. Pepper said this could including things like volunteer activities or dances.

New rules part of 51-page agreement

UNR undergraduate student body President Noah Teixeira said the 51-page agreement is too much and that some of the new rules being mandated violate insurance policies.

Teixeira said each fraternity has its own review board if things go wrong in a chapter and insurance policies are based on that. He also said other schools have had problems with an adviser living on site because of that person's liability if something were to go wrong.

"For years, this document goes more and more past what it should be doing for the fraternities," Teixeira said.

Teixeira said the six fraternities that are at risk are the oldest and largest on campus.

"I think after time with these (fraternities) operating on their own and without the relationship of the university will show they are doing just as well and better," he said.



Six fraternities that have not signed the 2018 agreement

Alpha Tau Omega

Kappa Alpha Order

Kappa Sigma

Sigma Phi Epsilon

Theta Chi

Zeta Psi

Some of the new parts of the UNR 2018 fraternities and sororities relationship agreement