Brown and White Vol. 133 no. 21

              The Brown and White Vol. 133 No. 21
Tuesday, November 21, 2017 ‘All the Lehigh News First’
Sigma Chi
fraternity loses
university
recognition
Construction creates logistical issues
By FANNY CHEN
B&W Staff
The Path to Prominence plan,
initiated by President John
Simon, encompasses a three-fold
objective that spans across sev-eral
years: expansion for greater
diversity and intellectual vibran-cy;
evolution to accommodate
growth and support cutting-edge
research; and exploration to
broaden Lehigh’s impact on the
By EMILY WARD
Editor in Chief
Lehigh’s chapter of Sigma Chi
was dissolved by the University
Committee on Discipline effective
Nov. 14 through May 31, 2020,
according to an email sent to all
Lehigh chapter presidents by Ashley
Baudouin, the director of the Office of
Sorority and Fraternity Affairs.
The decision follows an off-campus
incident on Oct. 13 in which two
students were hospitalized for alco-hol-
related emergencies and another
student was cited for underage drink-ing.
According to the Lehigh Greeks
blog, none of the Sigma Chi members
called for help when one of the stu-dents
required medical assistance.
The chapter was placed on inter-im
social suspension Nov. 1 pending
the outcome of an investigation into
these allegations. On Nov. 2, Sigma
Chi was charged with four respect for
community violations (organization-al
failure to seek medical attention,
irresponsible distribution of alcohol,
encouraging others and false infor-mation)
and one respect for self vio-lation
(unauthorized consumption,
distribution or possession of alcohol).
The chapter accepted responsibility
for all charges.
Following the investigation
by the Office of Student Conduct
and Community Expectations, the
University Committee on Discipline
met on Nov. 14 and decided to dis-solve
the Alpha Rho chapter of Sigma
Chi.
The chapter had previously been
placed on disciplinary deferred dis-solution
April 27 through Dec. 18
following three significant alcohol
violations in one calendar year.
Sigma Chi will be eligible to return
to Lehigh at the end of the dissolution
period on May 31, 2020, provided the
campus is open to expansion and is
subject to recognition processes in
place at that time.
However, the chapter’s ability to
return to campus could be jeopar-dized
or delayed if fraternity mem-bers
fail to comply with sanctions
and operate as an underground or
unrecognized organization.
“We recognize that losing a chapter
certainly has an impact across our
fraternity and sorority community,
and that this feels like déjà vu fol-lowing
the loss of Kappa Sigma in
July 2017,” Baudouin wrote in her
email. “Please know that Fraternity
and Sorority Affairs is committed to
supporting Sigma Chi undergraduate
members as they navigate this chal-lenging
transition so that they may
enjoy a meaningful and worthwhile
experience at Lehigh.”
world.
As part of the plan, Lehigh will
add a health college and increase
the number of undergraduate stu-dents
by 1,000. To support these
additional students, there must
be adequate spaces for living,
dining, studying, and meetings or
special events.
Two projects will bring Lehigh
a step closer to providing these
spaces: the Bridge West residence
hall and the renovation of the
University Center.
University architect Brent
Stringfellow said the Bridge West
residence hall and UC projects
will support the initiative to grow
the university. The projects will
cost $128 million and $100 mil-lion,
respectively, to cover con-struction,
furnishing and reloca-tion
expenses.
Stringfellow said the UC will
See PROJECTS Page 4
Rendering courtesy of Shepley Bullfinch Architects/Lehigh University website
Lehigh recently announced the construction of the Bridge West residence hall and the renovation of the University Center. The upcoming
projects are part of the Path to Prominence plan, initiated by President John Simon in 2016.
Sam Henry/B&W Staff
Members of the crowd cheer Saturday at Goodman Stadium. After a poor showing in the first half, Lehigh outscored Lafayette 24 to
7 in the second half and energized the crowd.
LEHIGH WINS THIRD RIVALRY GAME IN A ROW