Sigma Phi Epsilon leaves North American Interfraternity Conference
The outside of the Sigma Phi Epsilon house on Fourth Street is shown on Sunday. The national chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon has announced its departure from the North American Interfraternity Conference following safety concerns.
November 11, 2019
Last week, Sigma Phi Epsilon publicly announced it would be parting ways with the North American Interfraternity Conference.
The statement, released on Thursday, said the fraternity left the organization ultimately because NIC should have been doing more to focus on student safety, personal development and strategic partnership with each campus’ professionals.
With more than 13,000 undergraduate members at 210 campuses, the different chapters will remain a part of the campus interfraternity councils.
Sigma Phi Epsilon, located at 1105 S. Fourth St., first joined the NIC in 2015 with 72 other fraternities. Since then, it has taken steps toward a safer experience by removing pledging, training volunteers to be mentors and implementing substance-free facilities.
In 2018, NIC also banned alcoholic drinks that had more than 15% alcohol, which Ed Hammond, former chair of the NIC’s Commission on Alcohol Abuse, said was a step in the right direction, according to the statement. However, he said it does not go far enough in addressing the “underlying issues of alcohol and substance abuse, underage drinking and their connections to issues like hazing and assault.”
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“It’s clear that (Sigma Phi Epsilon’s) vision for how to enhance health and safety in the fraternity experience and partner with our host institutions has diverged from the NIC’s current approach. At (Sigma Phi Epsilon), we must deploy resources in ways that achieve our priorities,” said Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Chief Executive Officer Brian Warren.
The fraternity’s headquarters is located in Richmond, Virginia.
The University’s chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon did not respond in time for publication.
