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Greek community on social probation

November 24, 2009

All MSU greek houses associated with the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils are prohibited from hosting parties of any kind following two deaths in the past month, one of which possibly was alcohol related.

Interfraternity Council President Alex Fike said in a statement released Tuesday that both councils have levied the social probation because of the deaths.

The Interfraternity Council oversees 25 fraternity chapters at MSU, including Alpha Epsilon Pi and Alpha Gamma Rho, of which the deceased students were members. The Panhellenic Council oversees 13 sorority chapters.

Alpha Epsilon Pi member and business sophomore Ryan Rosman died Nov. 5 after being dragged by a bus in Detroit. Alpha Gamma Rho member and environmental soil science and chemistry senior Brian McMillen died Saturday because of unknown causes. Both deaths still are under investigation.

The East Lansing Police Department reported alcohol might have been a factor in McMillen’s death.

The council plans to develop a new program for alcohol abuse prevention for members of the greek community during the probationary period, Fike said. There also are plans to change the new member education program, he said. He said he couldn’t speak regarding the specifics of the programs because the council still is planning the changes.

“We’re really trying to get a feel for what we’re going to do yet,” Fike said.

Allie Vukov, president of the Panhellenic Council, could not be reached for comment.

Vice President for Student Affairs and Services Lee June said the university was not involved in the decision to place the greek community on social probation.

“We’ve been supporting the greek community through the tragedies, but (the probation) is something they’ve decided to do as a council,” he said. “It’s a decision by them.”

University spokeswoman Kristen Parker directed all questions to Fike and Vukov.

Fike wrote in the statement the probation was not meant as a punishment, but instead an opportunity for individual chapters to discuss risk-management policies.

He said group discussions will be available to chapters through the MSU Counseling Center.

Fike did not specify when the probationary period would end. During probation, chapters still will be engaged in philanthropy events and plan to hold an on-campus memorial for Rosman and McMillen.

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