U-M fraternity permanently dissolved for ski-resort rampage

The University of Michigan's Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity has been permanently disbanded by its parent organization for not only wrecking a northern Michigan resort but also for not stepping up and facing the music.

"It is regrettable that these vandals, as well as the officers of the chapter, decided that avoiding personal accountability and/or university sanctions took priority over the welfare of the entire chapter; their lack of cooperation led to the university's withdrawal of recognition of the entire chapter for a four-year period. Sigma Alpha Mu worked in cooperation with university officials and regretfully agreed with their request to close the chapter," executive director Leland Manders wrote in a statement.

Related: U-M punishes frats involved in ski resort vandalism

"The action was necessary as a result of: a) the lack of cooperation by those responsible for the damage in not coming forward, b) the chapter officers' refusal to identify the members who damaged the hotel property, c) the lack of action to stop the vandalism by bystanders. ...

"Sigma Alpha Mu's values and standards of conduct were violated by the actions of the those members whose behavior was abhorrent.

"When the incident first occurred, the fraternity's board took immediate and decisive action by suspending the chapter from all activities until a full investigation could be conducted. As a result of that process, a membership review was conducted and most of the senior members of the chapter refused to participate."

The statement says all members have been placed on alumni status and some face disciplinary action from "various authorities."

The university itself was "pleased (the national organization) followed through with this action," U-M spokesman Rick Fitzgerald told the Free Press, adding the actions taken by both the university and the national group prove they took the issue seriously.

U-M is still waiting for information from the police on individuals who might have been involved. No disciplinary proceedings have been started against any individuals, Fitzgerald said.

Those living in the house have until May 3 to move out. That's the official end of the school year at U-M.

This end was inevitable, said Alan Greenberg, a member of the alumni board that owns the house. The chapter leaders "chose to protect those who destroyed this chapter," he said.

Greenberg has been involved with the U-M chapter since 2004, when the house reopened after burning in 1999.

"We started with 10 kids and quickly grew," he said, noting that within a few years the U-M chapter was among the best SAM chapters in the nation.

"I'm clearly very disappointed in this," he said. "(The national organization) stated the reasons for this very clearly. It was almost a foregone conclusion this was going to happen, it was just a matter of when.

"I also fault the parents, because they didn't impose their will on the students to make them deal with this and they had chances to do so."

About 120 U-M students, members of Sigma Alpha Mu and women from its sister sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, had gathered at the ski resort in January. There was damage to 45 rooms, and students destroyed ceiling tiles and exit signs, broke furniture and doors and urinated on carpeting, pictures showed.

Damage estimates have climbed to over $400,000. State Police are investigating. No students have been charged. The prosecutor did not immediately return a request for an update.

University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel in late February barred Sigma Alpha Mu from campus life for at least four years, the most severe sanction that can be implemented against any campus student organization. He also asked the fraternity's national council to revoke its charter.

Schlissel's statement said sanctions against the fraternity include "paying full restitution to Treetops" and "participating in restorative measures in the Gaylord community."

Sorority Sigma Delta Tau was placed on a two-year disciplinary suspension because its members "stood by at Treetops Resort and allowed others to vandalize the facility," according to the U-M sanctions.

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj