Alpha Sig knew the consequences

If you keep throwing the dice, whose fault is it when you crap out? \nAug. 21, several members of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity held a party at which the fraternity admitted alcohol was served, a violation of University and Interfraternity Council rules. \nAlpha Sig had already been suspended from campus events since Nov. 3 for repeated alcohol violations and was going through formal reinstatement requirements with the University and the Alpha Sigma Phi national organization. \nThey were expected to be reinstated around Sept. 15.\nBut instead of adhering to the guidelines, which Alpha Sig President John Martorana, a junior, called "minor," the house took the gamble of holding an event with alcohol.\nAnd they crapped out.\nLast Wednesday, the national organization informed Alpha Sig members that it was evicting all current members from their 1968 N. Jordan Ave. house and would recruit an entirely new membership during formal rush. Members will have to be moved out by Wednesday. \nWhile the punishment seemed harsh at first glance, Alpha Sig was well aware of the rules in which it operated. \nMembers had signed contracts promising to become an alcohol-free fraternity. \nAnd they were already under the watchful eye of both the University and nationals. \nBut still members had the gall to have an illegal alcohol event during a suspension caused by previous alcohol offenses.\nWe feel sympathy for members who weren't involved in the event and bravely faced the consequences together ' even refusing to divulge the names of the brothers responsible. We wish them well in finding new housing, and we are glad Dean of Students Richard McKaig and others have come forward to offer on-campus alternatives for displaced members. \nBut that doesn't change the fact that members broke the rules and now must accept their fate. Common sense said members might want to lay low and play by the rules until the reinstatement process ended, but Alpha Sig took the chance that it wouldn't get caught again.\nIn this age of litigation, the last thing a national organization wants is a fraternity repeatedly showing its careless and callous regard to campus rules. So nationals decided to recruit new members, who might show more caution than the current house. \nBy clearly demonstrating its thick-headedness, Alpha Sig sent a message nationals could not ignore. As fraternity members learned last week, when you gamble with the rules -- sometimes you throw snake eyes.