Important Message to Our Alumni and Friends:

In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 6, 2012, a group of students passing by the fraternity on University Avenue were subjected to deplorable behavior from one or more people present in our house. While the police, the university and the alumni board continue their investigations, the board and the house leadership would like to make following statements:

The Sigma Pi Mu Chapter Alumni Corporation takes very seriously the allegations made and offers its full apology to those offended. As a Cornell fraternity with a long and proud heritage of diversity, we find the alleged conduct deeply disturbing and totally unacceptable. Whether committed by a brother, a friend, or a guest, the alleged behaviors reflect poorly on our organization in an area where we have zero tolerance. We have pledged our full cooperation with the investigation by the Ithaca Police and the university. To the extent that Mu Chapter brothers played a role in the events, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken.

Sigma Pi Mu Chapter would like to deeply apologize for the incident that occurred on May 6, 2012, at approximately 2:30 a.m., and offer its sympathy to any and all people affected by it. This was a terrible situation, and we condemn the assault and racial innuendo. Since the incident occurred, the two Mu Chapter brothers who witnessed what happened have promptly made voluntary statements to the police and intend to cooperate fully with the investigation. Additionally, the name of the individual responsible has been turned over to authorities.

We take pride in being an inclusive and welcoming organization. We regularly welcome guests into our house and recognize that the conduct of all persons on our property will reflect on the brotherhood as hosts. Although the perpetrator was not a brother of our chapter, this unfortunate event took place on our premise,s and we hold the ultimate responsibility. Please let us be clear: The entire brotherhood of Sigma Pi is shocked and embarrassed by this incident, and we recognize we are accountable. Behavior like this from anyone and in any form occurring on our premises is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the leadership and membership of our fraternity. We will take whatever steps possible to prevent these kinds of incidents from happening at our house or anywhere else on the Cornell campus.

This incident was out of the character of Sigma Pi, as evidenced by our longstanding history of diversity and inclusion. Our chapter is committed, long-term, to promoting awareness and assuring that deplorable events like this are eradicated from our campus. We are open to all productive forums of communication and advice, and are committed to working diligently with the Cornell community in order to become a part of a long-term solution that impresses upon the minds of every person that this type of behavior is not acceptable.

The events have been reported on and covered by the Cornell Daily Sun and by the Ithaca Journal.

MEET THE BOARD: Meet the members of our alumni board by visiting the Meet the Board page and reading each member's biography.