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QUCHRONICLE.COM
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
By STAFF REPORTS
Greek life members are quiet after the university issued a cease and desist order to Sigma Phi Epsilon over the weekend. The university is investigating the fraternity because of hazing allegations, according to the organization’s headquarters. “Responding to an anonymous report of hazing received over the weekend, the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity has asked its Quinnipiac chapter to temporarily suspend activities until an investigation is complete,” Marketing and Communications Director Beaux Carriere of Sigma Phi Epsilon headquarters said in a statement. “We expect all of our students to behave according to both their university’s policies and ours, and we take health and safety violations seriously. We work with our university partners to investigate any and all allegations of student misconduct.” The university had said in a statement Monday that the chapter must halt all operations while the university investigates it because of “allegations regarding the fraternity’s process for new members.” “We have zero tolerance for any behavior which threatens the safety and security of any member of the university community,” Vice President for Public Affairs Lynn Bushnell said in the statement. The university would not allow any other officials to speak for this story. Sigma Phi Epsilon is one of the largest fraternities in the United States, according to the
VOLUME 86, ISSUE 5
that Greeks do a commendable amount of community service and can be credited with a great amount of the volunteerism coming out of QU.” Brian Moeltner, a junior not involved in Greek life, said he is not surprised the chapter was accused of hazing. “I just kind of expected that [hazing],” Moeltner said. “I know at other schools, I’ve heard some really f*cked up stories that my friends have had to do. I don’t see a problem, really, with hazing, I guess … like, at all. I know some of them are messed up—there’s definitely some hazing that’s bad. But, like, comparatively I don’t think [Quinnipiac] is bad.” that hazing Freshman Joe Mania thinks that Sigma Phi is often connected to Epsilon got the consequences they deserve. Greek organizations. “I think it is important that they are facing “It is really sad and unfortunate that the the repercussions they are with Greek life being conversation of so important on campus,” Mania said. “They hazing remains should be punished for what they did because a plague to the it isn’t right...it shows and sets a precedent that Greek lettered when what you do is wrong, you will face the o r g a n i z a - consequences.” Sigma Phi Epsilon received a lot of positions,” she s a i d tive media coverage earlier this month when it posted a video of the members carrying one of their brothers, who is wheelchair bound because he has Friedreich’s Ataxia, up Sleeping Giant Mountain. The fraternity had an event planned for Oct. 11 to raise money PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KRISTEN RIELLO to cure Friedreich’s Ataxia. Members in a statement. “While it is our sincerest hope also volunteered at the Brooksvale Fall Festival that this matter is sorted out and handled, we also think it is important to highlight the fact See SIG EP Page 3 not want to release a statement until the investigation was over and more information was available. President of Sigma Gamma Rho Melissa Barosy said it is disappointing
Sigma Phi Epsilon website. The fraternity’s mission is to “build balanced leaders for the world’s communities,” according to the Quinnipiac chapter’s Do You QU page.
Sig Ep Silent The Chronicle contacted the president of Sigma Phi Epsilon, several members of the fraternity and the presidents of all the Greek organizations, but all either did not return the
Fraternity, Greek life refuse to comment after hazing allegations request for comment or declined to comment on the allegations. The Interfraternity Council (IFC) also declined to comment and said it did
Shuttle change affects Hamden businesses
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Small businesses in Hamden said they’ve seen a decrease in customers ever since a North Haven shuttle replaced the former Hamden shuttle earlier in September. Prior to the fall 2015 semester, the Hamden shuttle made stops in front of stores on Dixwell Avenue such as Walmart, Marshall’s,
ShopRite and Stop & Shop. However, this route has been replaced by the North Haven Shopping and Entertainment shuttle. This shuttle makes stops in front of Walgreens, Stop & Shop, Best Buy, Buffalo Wild Wings, Panera Bread, Target, Subway and Barnes & Noble. Out of all the Hamden businesses interviewed, those most affected by this change are Panera Bread and Dava Boutique, both
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located on Dixwell Avenue. Panera Bread has a store in North Haven, according to Amber, one of the managers for the Panera Bread in Hamden who chose not to disclose her last name. She said she believes the North Haven store will pick up the business the Hamden store has lost. “We’ve definitely noticed a change in business, especially in the evening,” she said. Amber also said Panera Bread employees
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While some Hamden businesses have noticed a drop in customers since the university stopped running shuttles to the town, ShopRite said business has not changed.
could easily tell when school was back in session because Quinnipiac students would pile into the store. “You could always tell when the school year was starting because we’d get a lot more people coming in,” she said. “In the past, we could definitely tell when a shuttle was coming up; students would come in in big groups.” The Dava Boutique is also concerned there could be a dip in business now that the shuttles have been rerouted to North Haven instead of Hamden, according to Amanda, a manager at Dava Boutique that chose not to disclose her last name. “We have a wide demographic of customers, so it’s hard to tell exactly how many are QU students, but I’m sure we’ll notice a decline in business if the shuttles aren’t coming here anymore,” she said. Amanda said the business always expected rushes of students at the start of the school year. For example, she said she noticed a lot of Quinnipiac students and parents shopping at the store in late August. “We could always tell when school started because a ton of students always started coming in,” she said. Hamden Mayor Curt Leng said this change in the shuttle route is a “petty gesture,” according to the New Haven Register. “Quinnipiac may be investing in North Haven, but they are inconveniencing their students today, all of whom are housed in
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