Austin News
UT, fraternity reach agreement after pledge's death
01:20 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A University of Texas fraternity on probation after hazing incidents in fall 2006 has reached an agreement with the university on how to initiate future members and host social activities.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledge Tyler Cross died in 2006 after falling from a balcony at the University Towers, where he lived. An autopsy showed that the Georgia native had a blood alcohol content of .19 -- more than twice the legal limit in Texas.
The university found the fraternity had several violations in connection with the incident, and individual members of the fraternity were disciplined. Sigma Alpha Epsilon also remains on probation.
The agreement's guidelines focus mainly on clamping down on hazing and eliminating underage drinking. Among the guidelines, the fraternity must give the university advance notice of large parties and limit guests to those already named in a pre-party guest list. Off-duty police officers will be required to hand out wristbands to attendees and provide security. Parties will also be limited to Fridays and Saturdays and must end by 2 a.m.
"It is our hope that this agreement creates a model for conduct by our fraternities and sororities," said William Powers Jr., president of The University of Texas at Austin, in a news release. "It is important that our university community -- and particularly members of SAE and our other fraternities and sororities-recognize the consequences of illegal activities such as hazing or the provision of alcohol to minors."
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