To:

The Alumni of Sigma Alpha Mu Sigma Iota Chapter

From: Leland D. Manders, Executive Director
Date: May 21, 2015
Subject: Comprehensive Report on the Chapters status
Fraters,
Several of you have requested a comprehensive report from the national office regarding the status of
the Sigma Iota Chapter, its members and its future. I apologize for not sending this sooner. As you can
imagine, its been a very busy winter, and that level of involvement by this office is continuing into the
summer months. The information below was obtained from interviews, discussions with members and
university officials, hotel management, police reports, and others.
As you may know, the chapter was involved in an incident over the weekend of January 16-18 (Martin
Luther King Holiday weekend) at Treetops Ski Resort in Gaylord, MI. During the weekend, over 112
Sigma Iota Chapter members, along with over 100 members of Sigma Delta Tau Sorority went to the
resort for a party. They reserved an entire wing of the hotel. During the past few weeks, we found out
that the chapter has held this event for several years now. In past years, there usually was some
property damage, mostly to furniture, etc. The hotel was always immediately reimbursed for that
damage in past years, and, by all accounts, that damage never exceeded $15,000.
This year, several of the older chapter members got out of control. On top of the typical drunken
behavior of most chapter members and their guests (which was certainly embarrassing and
inappropriate), approximately twenty members began a vandalism spree that exceeded all standards of
conduct or decency. The vandalism included damage to furniture, broken windows, broken light
fixtures, holes in walls, six broken room doors and frames, an entire hallway ceiling (including tiles and t-
track) was ripped down or damaged. Further, members exhibited lewd behavior to other hotel patrons,
urinated and vomited on carpeting and in private rooms. All told, over 45 hotel rooms and several
public areas had to be cleaned and repaired. Cleaning and sanitizing invoices were over $75,000, and
the grand total of actual physical damage and cleaning, including staff time was approximately
$200,000. The hotel has determined that they want over $430,000 as compensation, and they are suing
for it.
The chapter was evicted from the hotel by Gaylord, MI police on Sunday morning that weekend. The
national office was informed of the damage by local media outlets on Tuesday night. The media
attention went viral, and we had to engage a media consultant to help guide our statements and
actions. We immediately contacted chapter officers, informing various authorities, etc. The Octagon
suspended the chapter pending further investigation. The university was already aware of the incident
via media inquiries, and we worked with their administrators throughout this process.
Upon learning of the incident, I instructed the Prior to issue a media release on Wednesday that week,
apologizing for the poor behavior of some of their members and accepting full responsibility for the
incident. The Prior also pledged that the chapter would provide full restitution for the damages.

Unfortunately, due to the advice of some parents and their attorneys, thats where the chapters actions
went off track.
The chapter officers had been in their respective positions of authority for only three weeks at the time
of the incident, however, the outgoing officers were also in attendance at the event. The new chapter
officers were sophomores. They were intimidated by other chapter members. They have reported that
they tried to stop the vandalism, but were unsuccessful. The officers reported to me that they do have a
list of the culprits, but these officers, upon advice of counsel, have refused to cooperate with the
authorities, including the Octagon, in the investigations. Others in the chapter also know who did the
bulk of the damage. Chapter members and officers have also refused to cooperate with Michigan State
Police and the county prosecutor. I suppose they are worried about criminal consequences. Indeed,
three members (including the Prior) have since been charged with allowing underage drinking. One
other graduating senior has been charged with malicious destruction of property.
The Fraternitys staff and the Octagon felt (and still feel) that, had the chapter cooperated with the
investigations of the university, the police, and the Octagon, that the chapter could have been saved.
NO members cooperated with any investigation, not even confidentially. The Octagon (including the
Supreme Prior) went to Ann Arbor and conducted a membership review. No seniors were willing to
participate. The others were unwilling to discuss the Treetops incident. Some brought attorneys with
them to the interview portion of the review.
The Fraternity staff prepared a list of potential sanctions (some educational, some disciplinary in nature)
to impose on the chapter. These sanctions were presented to the GARP Panel (Greek Disciplinary
board), and, after a hearing, the panel recommended our sanctions to the Dean of Students. Due to the
media hype, local attention, and damage to the reputation of the university and its Greek Community,
President Schlissel overrode the recommendation and instructed the Dean to withdraw recognition of
our chapter as a university organization for a period of at least four years. The Octagon had no choice
but to cooperate and to go along with the universitys wishes. The Chapter was permanently suspended
and disbanded. Residents of the chapter house were permitted (with restrictions) to continue to live in
the house until May 3.
The primary reason that was given by President Schlissel for the harsh discipline that was levied in this
matter is the fact that our members never came forward to accept responsibility. They (frankly) hid
behind their parents and attorneys.
SDT Sorority was given a two-year suspension of recruitment and chapter social activities for their roles
in the incident. Their members stood by and didnt try to stop our guys from vandalizing the property,
and they also refused to turn anyone in for the damages.
Again, this whole situation could have been avoided if the chapter officers (or any other members) had
been willing to identify the vandals. Instead, they circled the wagons in some distorted definition of
brotherhood and protected each other. As a result, the chapter entity suffered. The chapter had 140
members at the time of the incident. The chapter had won the Fraternitys Founders Cup for four out of
the last seven years. Tops academically on campus for nine straight semesters. Tens of thousands of

dollars raised for philanthropy each year. And it all went down the drain due to a few drunken bad actor
members, poor and inexperienced chapter leadership and bad advice from parents and attorneys. We
know from the university and the county prosecutor that the chapter could have avoided prosecution
and closure if they had done the right thing.
And, they are all still arguing about paying the hotel. We know that the hotel filed an insurance claim.
The hotel is suing the chapter, the national, and the members for damages to the hotels reputation,
inconveniences, etc. The members of the chapter are financially liable for this situation. They are still
playing games. Its embarrassing and frustrating. The financial details are interesting, but I have not
included them in this message. There have been large payments from the chapter and the insurance
company, and the hotel management wants more money. Insurance fraud is a possibility. But, all that
is unimportant for this discussion.
In the meantime, as per Blue Book provisions, the Octagon has taken over the bank accounts of the
chapter to ensure that chapter funds (now that the chapter has been disbanded and does not exist any
longer) are used in a responsible way. We didnt want the chapter to waste their funds on any parties or
other nefarious activities. Catering/food costs, utilities, and other legitimate expenses are being paid
out of these chapter funds. So will cleanup and repair of the chapter house. If there is anything left
over, it will be held for future chapter use, just like the last time that the chapter was off campus.
However, that now appears doubtful.
As you know, Fra Alan Greenberg has dedicated over ten years to the chapter and the management of
the chapter house, including acting as House Corporation President and in an advisory capacity to the
men of Sigma Iota. He has worked tirelessly (at his own personal expense) to acquire, maintain and
administer to the needs of the chapter house, all from his home in California. The housing corporation
has decided to maintain ownership of the chapter house so that in five years, the next generation of
Sigma Iota chapter members can have a chapter house. In the meantime, their intention is to rent the
property to another Greek organization (Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority), and preparations are now being
made for them to take possession of the chapter house in July.
In the meantime, the Octagon has taken steps to expel all SI members who were in attendance at the
Treetops Resort over the weekend in question. The irresponsibility, the complete disregard for
authority, behavioral decency and reasonable standards of conduct have been ignored.
We will return to Michigan in the future. We will occupy the chapter house, and we will have a fresh
start at re-establishing our Fraternity and its members as one of high moral character, among the best
on campus. You alumni deserve that.
Should you have any questions about this matter, please dont hesitate to contact me at leem@sam.org.
Fraternally,

Lee Manders

Leland D. Manders, Executive Director