Are You Kidding Me?

MSU fraternity agrees to hard liquor ban after sex assault alleged 
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HomeNewsMontana State University MSU fraternity agrees to hard liquor ban after sex assault alleged Story Comments Print Create a hardcopy of this page Font Size: Default font size Larger font size 1 Mike Greener/Chronicle Montana State University Dean of Students Dr. Matthew Caires listens to Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity president Jack Murrey, 20, speak about a new agreement between the greek system and the school to help educate members and prevent future sexual assaults. Buy this photo Posted: Monday, December 9, 2013 4:07 pm GAIL SCHONTZLER, Chronicle Staff Writer One of two Montana State University fraternities where women alleged they were raped in September has agreed to four permanent sanctions, including more education on preventing sexual assault and a ban on hard liquor at the fraternity. Dean of Students Matt Caires announced the agreement Monday with Jack Murrey, who became president two weeks ago of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. MSU suspended the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, 1321 S. Fifth Ave., and the Sigma Chi fraternity, 722 S. Willson Ave., after two separate assaults were reported on the weekend of Sept. 13. Neither was allowed to participate in Homecoming, intramural sports and other activities. Caires said he considered suspending Pi Kappa Alpha permanently. He said he was pleased with the outcome of negotiations with Pi Kappa, and hopes to reach a similar agreement with Sigma Chi by the end of the week. “I think this is a big step in the right direction to ensure safety,” Caires said. The major problems he's seen in fraternities over the last 15 years at MSU and other campuses have always involved hard alcohol, he said. It's usually sweetened to hide the taste of alcohol and can get people drunk very quickly. Under the agreement, Pi Kappa is reinstated as a fraternity in good standing, and will be allowed to have beer and wine. Caires said he's a fan of alcohol-free fraternities, but most fraternities are not. Murrey, a junior film major from Tacoma, Wash., said his fraternity debated whether to go dry, but college students do drink. Instead, Pi Kappa wants to drink responsibly and safely, he said. If this doesn't work, he added, members know there will be further consequences for the fraternities. Caires said the Pi Kappa fraternity cooperated fully with MSU's investigation. In his 15 years in college administration, he said he had never seen a fraternity hold itself accountable at this level. “In the past I've seen fraternities circle the wagons, refuse to cooperate, lie, protect their member,” Caires said. “We think we do have a good chapter and we want to improve,” Murrey said. “We never want to see a situation like this happen again.” The Pi Kappa member under investigation has been suspended by the fraternity, but his status could be reevaluated, depending on the outcome, Murrey said. The fraternity has 51 active members, 15 of whom live at the house. The fraternity's motto is to strive to be “scholars, leaders, athletes and gentlemen,” Murrey said. He said he's not worried the ban on hard liquor may discourage some students from joining, saying the fraternity probably doesn't want members who'd join for that reason. MSU campus police investigated the recent allegations and referred both cases to the Gallatin County Attorney's Office with requests for prosecution. So far there has been no word on whether prosecutors will file charges on those two cases, or on a third case that's 11 months old. In the Jan. 13 case, an assault was alleged at the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Caires said because Kappa Sigma didn't propose any internal reforms, he sanctioned it with two months social probation, which meant no parties involving alcohol for two months. MSU's agreement with Pi Kappa requires: All members participate in sexual assault prevention training this spring with the MSU VOICE Center, which provides education, advocacy and support on sexual assault. Caires said the center emphasizes “bystander intervention,” which trains students to step up to protect someone who's intoxicated or in danger of being taken advantage of. Annual sexual assault prevention training for new fraternity members. Banning hard liquor at the fraternity, starting immediately. Starting in the fall of 2014, the fraternity will have several members stay sober at parties, especially in the first four weeks of college, to make sure all intoxicated guests are “escorted home and not taken advantage of, sexually or otherwise.” “I'm optimistic and hopeful the fraternity is on a path to continue to improve,” Caires said. Pi Kappa also designated one member as a liaison with the Not In Our House task force, a prevention and training program sponsored by the VOICE Center. MSU has seven fraternities with about 250 male student members, and four sororities with around 250 female students, Caires said.

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