Editing Sigma Alpha Epsilon (section)

===Hazing and alcohol related deaths and injuries===

{{main|List of hazing deaths in the United States}}
Sigma Alpha Epsilon has had nine deaths linked to drinking, drugs and [[Hazing in Greek letter organizations|hazing]] since 2006, more than any other Greek organization, according to data compiled by [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] in 2013.<ref name="Bloomberg deadliest fraternity">{{cite news| last1=Hechinger |first1=John |last2=Glovin |first2= David |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-30/deadliest-frat-s-icy-torture-of-pledges-evokes-tarantino-films.html | work=Bloomberg | title=Deadliest Frat's Icy 'Torture' of Pledges Evokes Tarantino Films|year=2013|url-access=subscription|access-date=November 17, 2024}}</ref> More than 100 chapters have been disciplined since 2007, with at least fifteen suspended or closed since 2010. A potential initiate to the SAE chapter at [[Salisbury University]] in [[Maryland]] alleged that Justin Stuart was beaten with a paddle, forced to drink alcohol to the point of [[Short-term effects of alcohol consumption#Effects by dosage|losing consciousness]] and confined in a basement for nine hours without access to food, water or a bathroom while being subjected to [[Music in psychological operations|music torture]], an experience described as being "almost like [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp|Guantanamo Bay]]". The allegations were verified by a university investigation that led to the suspension of the chapter on the grounds that it had violated Salisbury policies on alcohol, hazing, and threats or acts of violence.<ref name="Bloomberg deadliest fraternity" />

In May 2013, members of the [[Arizona State]] chapter allegedly left an underage member outside a hospital with a note saying "Ive [''[[sic]]''] been drinking and I need some help."  The 20-year-old survived after nearly 20 shots of tequila resulting in a near lethal [[blood alcohol content]] of 0.47%, according to doctors.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sigma Alpha Epsilon, fraternity at center of University of Oklahoma controversy, no stranger to unflattering headlines|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/sae-frat-no-stranger-unflattering-headlines-article-1.2142806|work=NY Daily News | location=New York|date=March 9, 2015}}</ref>

In 2017, the University of Nevada, Reno suspended the Reno chapter of SAE due to allegations of hazing and underage drinking. The university ultimately voted to remove SAE's recognition for four years.<ref name="UNR Suspends SAE">{{cite news| url=https://www.2news.com/university-of-nevada-removes-recognition-of-sigma-alpha-epsilon-for-four-years/article_96bdee23-d519-59cf-8659-edbc85200116.html|work=KTVN 2 News|title=University of Nevada Removes Recognition of Sigma Alpha Epsilon for Four Years|date=June 13, 2017}}</ref> As of 2023, the University of Nevada, Reno still does not recognize SAE, with that chapter still working towards recognition.<ref name="UNR Unrecognized Fraternities">{{cite web| url=https://www.unr.edu/fraternity-and-sorority-life/chapters/unrecognized-fraternities-and-sororities| work=unr.edu| title=Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life| date=March 31, 2023}}</ref>

As a result of these incidents, student members pay among the highest rates for [[liability insurance]] of any fraternity.<ref name="Bloomberg deadliest fraternity"/> In March 2014, [[JPMorgan Chase]] stopped managing an investment account of SAE's charitable foundation, with bad publicity from hazing as the likely cause.<ref name=jpmorgan>{{cite news|title=Fraternity Chief Feared for Son as Hazings Spurred JPMorgan Snub|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-27/fraternity-chief-feared-for-son-as-hazings-spurred-jpmorgan-snub.html|access-date=March 28, 2014|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=March 26, 2014|author=John Hechinger|author2=David Glovin}}</ref> In January 2019, a newly-initiated freshman member of the chapter at the [[University of California, Irvine]] died from alcohol poisoning with allegations of fraternity hazing rituals still under investigation.<ref name="NBC News">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/uc-irvine-fraternity-suspended-after-sigma-alpha-epsilon-member-dies-n958696|title=UC Irvine fraternity suspended after Sigma Alpha Epsilon member dies|publisher=NBC News|date=January 15, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/01/14/after-death-student-sae-fraternity-is-suspended-uc-irvine/|title=After the death of a student, SAE fraternity is suspended at UC-Irvine|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 14, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019}}</ref><ref name="ABC News">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/noah-domingo-university-of-california-irvine-student-death-blamed-on-alcohol-poisoning-sigma-alpha-epsilon/|title=Father blames son's death on fraternity's "family drink" hazing ritual|publisher=ABC News|date=March 12, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019}}</ref>

In 2012, the national fraternity organization responded to hazing allegations, stating that it has "zero tolerance for hazing", and that the reported infractions represent a low percentage of its more than 219 chapters and 15,000 college members.<ref name="Bloomberg deadliest fraternity" /> Following the 2011 hazing-related death of a [[Cornell University]] sophomore who was blindfolded, bound and forced to drink shots of vodka then left dying in the empty fraternity house, a constitutional amendment to ban alcohol at all chapter houses was proposed at the 155th national conference, but the measure failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed.<ref name=nyt1>{{cite news|last=Winerip|first=Michael|title=When a Hazing Goes Very Wrong|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/education/edlife/a-hazing-at-cornell.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=December 31, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 12, 2012}}</ref>

In March 2014 the fraternity revised its membership process to replace the term "pledge" with "new member" and require that initiation be completed within 96 hours of new members receiving bids.<ref name="dailyorange">{{cite news|title=After nine fraternity-related deaths nationwide, SAE chapters are being forced to comply or close|url=http://dailyorange.com/2014/03/after-nine-fraternity-related-deaths-nationwide-sae-chapters-are-being-forced-to-comply-or-close/|work=Daily Orange|date=March 2014}}</ref> The SAE national president cited efforts to combat hazing, treat all members of the fraternity equally, and to protect the reputation of the fraternity as primary reasons for the change.<ref name=dave/><ref name=jpmorgan/>