The University of Dayton has put the Sigma Chi fraternity on interim suspension pending the completion of an investigation into alleged disorderly conduct at a rural Ohio gas station before Thanksgiving break.
Eighty University of Dayton students were cited in a Madison County Sheriff’s Office incident report after anonymous calls were made to the sheriff’s office regarding a group of people causing a disturbance at the Lake Side Plaza around 5 p.m., Nov. 17, in Madison County, Ohio.
Upon arriving at the scene, sheriff’s deputies interviewed subjects who were reportedly seen by witnesses and other deputies as yelling obscenities to customers, breaking items in the store, standing on parked cars and urinating on the floor. The subjects, who were identified as UD students, were also reported as climbing on gas pumps and exposing their genitals to customers. The report said that the male and female restrooms had urine all over the walls and floor, used condoms in the sink and urine all over unused toilet paper. There was also a beer cooler with a large amount of open alcoholic containers. Most of the students were reportedly intoxicated.
The report said that officers made contact with four male subjects who identified themselves as in charge. They stated the two busses at the site were carrying UD students who were returning to the university from the Columbus area. The report also stated that the subjects said that all of the students had been consuming alcoholic beverages and that they would pay the business for the damages caused to the property.
“The reports of disorderly behavior, destruction of property and underage drinking are all unacceptable and in violation of the University’s Student Code of Conduct,” said Bill Fischer, vice president for student development. “There’s no place for this kind of disappointing behavior.”
According to information gathered by Flyer News, the students were returning from a university-registered event with alcohol in Columbus.
The owner of Lake Side Plaza, Danielle Campbell declined to comment on the incident.
Kevin Cane, director of Greek Life and Leadership Programs, said university officials began investigating the incident as soon as it was brought to the university’s attention.
“The organization is temporarily unrecognized by the university and must cease all organizational activities,” Cane said. “The organization is denied participation in any activity or event for which the organization may otherwise be eligible to participate in or attend. All previously approved activities are to be cancelled and members are not to gather in the name of Sigma Chi pending the outcome of the student conduct system, unless guided by a university official to convene.”
According to an article published by the Dayton Daily News last week, Madison County Sheriff Lt. John Swaney said last Wednesday that the evidence and copies of the report were handed over to UD Public Safety because the victims are not seeking criminal charges against the individuals involved in the incident.
The article also mentioned that of the 80 students involved in the incident and recorded in the report, at least 33 were under the age of 21.
Sigma Chi chapter advisor Travis Tangeman, Sigma Chi chapter president Matthew Walters declined to comment. Interfraternity Council president Joseph Gierut, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
As of Nov. 21, the chapter was not listed among active undergraduate chapters on the fraternity’s national website, sigmachi.org. Attempts to contact the national fraternity in Evanston, Ill. were unsuccessful.
