April 22, 2019

NO. 82 | VOL. 100

CENTRAL MICHIGAN

LIFE

INVESTIGATION

EXPLORING THE DARK SIDE OF GREEK LIFE

A detailed look at allegations of sexual assault, drugging women and misconduct that led to Phi Sigma Phi’s permanent suspension APRIL 22, 2019

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APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

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CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019

EDITOR’S NOTE

INDEX NEWS 14 Operating in the shadows Although unaffiliated from a university, that doesn’t stop Greek chapters from recruiting, partying

16 One student’s story of

using the OCRIE process Universities investigate sexual misconduct differently, CMU’s policy gives choice to survivors

FOLLOW US ONLINE

20 Greek punishment differs

Make sure to read all of our coverage on our website, cm-life.com.

at universities

Some universities choose to suspend all Greek Life — CMU operates differently

In October 2018, Central Michigan University made the unusual decision of cutting ties with Phi Sigma Phi, forever. The fraternity is unaffiliated with CMU and there is no path for it to become a Registered Student Organization again.

Central Michigan Life requested copies of the investigative documents used by CMU to reach this decision. We also contacted PSP’s national office to try to understand its frustration with how the university investigated the allegations against the Xi Chapter.

Creating thorough journalism takes time. Today’s edition has taken months of work to complete.

Just before holiday break, we received the documents we requested in October. It took weeks to interview sources, make sense of what we received and try to piece together the stories you see in today’s edition.

Included in this edition are stories that detail the history of complaints against PSP, how unrecognized organizations operate off campus, how complainants view CMU’s sexual misconduct policy and what the future of Greek Life looks like at our university.

Let this serve as your warning: Raw facts and vivid testimony about sexual assault and drugging are included in these stories as they are cited in incident reports from the university.

If you have ever experienced hazing, whether it be with a fraternity or not, or sexual abuse we encourage you to contact the resources offered on campus. The Counseling Center, Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates and the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity are just a few that can help someone in need. Stand up for yourself. Stand up for your peers. Seek the help you need.

— Emma Dale, Editor-in-Chief

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APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

‘PARTY AT THEIR HOUSE AND THE RISK YOU TAKE IS GREAT’ Freedom of Information Act request details more than a decade of accusations against Phi Sigma Phi

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CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019

Don’t go into the basement.

For years, sorority sisters and other women who attended Phi Sigma Phi parties shared that advice with each other.

Stepping inside was worth the risk for many women – the fraternity was known for hosting the best parties. The brothers are described as charismatic and goodlooking. They also are notorious for doling out a lot of alcohol to women at their events.

“Alcohol is practically shoved down your throat as soon as you walk through the door,” wrote “A concerned alumna” in an August 2018 email to Central Michigan University administrators.

While PSP maintained a high profile among students because of those popular parties, the Greek community was also aware of its darker reputation.

From 2015-18, complaints about PSP to the Office of Student Conduct and Greek Life were submitted at an increasing rate.

In October 2018, Steven Johnson, vice president of Enrollment and Student Services, took unprecedented action against the fraternity, removing them

from Greek Life, forever.

Unaffiliated from the university, though still supported by its national organization, PSP now operates with less oversight and without having to follow any Interfraternity Council rules or restrictions.

As the semester comes to an end, warmer weather will entice students outside looking for the next big party. PSP continues to host parties even as the university is still investigating a sexual misconduct complaint reported by a CMU student.

Students might have heard about PSP – rumors about drugged drinks, allegations of sexual assaults or stories about fights at parties. It’s important to understand what the fraternity members were accused of, dating back to 2006, and how they responded to those charges.

“I saw what they were doing and I didn’t feel safe there so I stayed away,” The “concerned alumna” stated in her email. “Unfortunately many students don’t know or understand what atmosphere they are about to walk into.”

STORY BY MELISSA FRICK • UNIVERSITY EDITOR

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APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

A screenshot from Phi Sigma Phi’s Facebook page shows a photo of a woman’s breasts with the words “RUSH Phi Sigma Phi Xi. ” This image was included in the university’s incident reports.

CMU’S CASE AGAINST PSP Nationally, PSP is a small organization – there are only 11 chapters listed on its website. At CMU, however, the fraternity gained a large following. There are 50 affiliated members listed on its Spring 2018 roster.

The Xi Chapter at CMU was chartered Nov. 18, 1995, making it the ninth chapter of PSP, according to the national fraternity’s website. Over the course of its history, the fraternity has racked up a number of complaints against it. Members have been accused of sexual assault, drugging women and hazing. One complainant even suggested they have hazed members of sororities.

On Oct. 22, 2018, Central Michigan Life, through a Freedom of Information Act request, sought the documents that the Office of Student Conduct used to investigate the allegations against the fraternity. On Dec. 13, 2018, CM Life received 33 documents – totaling more than 1,300 pages – and was charged $1,055.52 by the university.

The condition of the heavily-redacted documents sometimes makes it difficult to understand the chronology of events and how administrators responded to specific complaints. Included in the request are police reports, a 2015-18 case summary written

by Tom Idema, Office of Student Conduct director, emails from administrators and law enforcement and other documents. Most of the pages were heavily redacted by the General Counsel’s office – dates, locations, photos, police report narratives, statements from

students and copies of social media posts were removed or altered.

After CM Life received the documents, several attempts were made to schedule interviews with administrators to help gain further insight into the investigation. Many were reluctant to be interviewed.

Interfraternity Council President Connor Drake and Panhellenic Council President Morgan Victory both declined to comment for this story.

During an April 1 interview with Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Tony Voisin, Director of Student Activities and Involvement Damon Brown and Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Molly Schuneman, Voisin said they would not answer certain questions because PSP’s national office had threatened to sue the university.

Idema’s case history cites 14 incidents involving PSP from 2015-18. That number of complaints is more than three times as many incidents involving any other Greek Registered Student Organization still in good standing at CMU, his report stated.

“It is based on these reports that the university has determined there is significant concern that the group’s activities and behaviors are dangerous and pose a credible threat to members of the CMU and greater Mount Pleasant community,” the case history states. “To this end, the university believes that it must act, with or without the cooperation of complainants and witnesses, to permanently disband the fraternity.”

MULTIPLE ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT Four of the PSP incident reports were related to sexual misconduct or sexual assault complaints. One heavily-redacted 2016 report describes the story of a woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted in the basement of the PSP house located in Deerfield Village in Union Township. The woman reported the assault to her resident assistant, who filed the report.

She told her RA that she arrived at the fraternity house with a friend one evening before a CMU football game – the date of the game and the opposing team were redacted in the report. Based on the Michigan State Police incident report, the woman is describing Western Weekend – a 7 p.m. game on Oct. 1, 2016. She described seeing “hundreds of people” at the party. The woman recalled consuming half of a fifth of Smirnoff vodka. She was eventually separated from her friend inside the house.

She never made it to the football game.

Four men brought her to the basement of the PSP house, she told her RA. She reported that they brought her into the laundry room of the basement, placed her on the ground and shut the door.

They touched her in ways she “didn’t like being touched.”

“They kept grabbing me,” she told her RA, according to the report. Several men held her down throughout the night so she was unable to leave. She noted that at least one of the men was a PSP member.

The Michigan State Police report stated that the woman said she

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CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019 The Michigan State Police report stated that the woman said she had sexual intercourse on the basement floor with two different men. She also said she was assaulted in the bathroom of the house and was “held down by force,” even though she said “stop” several times. Because of the heavily-redacted report, it’s difficult to determine whether the assaults were by repeat attackers or separate men.

She reported she was forced down by a man in the bathroom as he performed oral sex on her. He placed her on the bathroom countertop, pulled down her pants and underwear and held her down, she reporter. During a 20-minute period, she reported that she said stop several times and tried to get up and leave.

In the Michigan State Police report, she said she was very intoxicated during all three sexual acts that took place in the PSP house. She told state troopers she thought she remembered consenting to the intercourse with the others, but during the oral sex in the bathroom she was held down by force. At the end of the night, a PSP member drove her to her residence hall. She left the house without her underwear.

After speaking to her RA, the woman was brought to the Residence Hall Director to report the incident. The woman said that she felt embarrassed and unsure of what to do after that evening. She repeated several times that her roommate told her the way she was treated was her own fault, “because she was too drunk.” Her roommate was friends with several PSP members.

“Those guys don’t deserve to get in trouble,” the roommate reportedly told her – she was the one “hoeing around.” The woman’s roommate texted members of PSP, who reached out to her on Twitter.

According to university records, retaliation and harassment are themes in the complaints against PSP. Women often feel pressure from friends, members of Greek Life, members of their own sororities and PSP members to drop complaints. Many women stated they were discouraged from speaking out against the fraternity.

The woman eventually went to McLaren Central Michigan hospital for a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner test.

A search warrant was executed on Oct. 3, 2016. A trooper searched the fraternity house to try to find the woman’s underwear.

Nothing was found.

The PSP president met with the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity and the Office of Student Conduct. The woman never followed up with OCRIE. Information from an Advocate Report showed that the woman’s roommate was sharing information with PSP during the investigation.

After Idema’s office met with PSP, it chose not to pursue the case. Without the victim’s cooperation, the office felt there was not enough information to conduct an investigation. Though the investigation ended, PSP removed a man from its chapter.

Shawn Head, PSP’s National Risk Management Director, said the man who was accused of sexual assault in this case was a probational associate member who had been offered a bid, but not yet been added to the fraternity roster. Upon hearing of the accusations, Head said PSP immediately suspended the man’s involvement.

“When we were aware of accusations, we took swift action,” Head said. “That is the only time that I recall ever hearing any accusation of sexual assault.”

According to Head, the university never provided PSP with any information about the woman’s complaint. Head said PSP reached out to the university for more information to conduct its own investigation, but the fraternity never received a response.

In a 2017 Office of Student Conduct report, a summary was given from a senior who alleged she was raped by a PSP member in Fall 2015 at the PSP house. She was told by the PSP president that the fraternity “handled it.”

The report lists allegations that PSP hired strippers for a Fall 2015 pregame house party. It also accused PSP of providing alcohol, including bags of wine, at parties to heavily encourage women to drink.

FEAR OF RETALIATION “I am writing to inform you that Phi Sigma Phi needs to be watched.”

Brown received an email from an anonymous sophomore in 2006 stating that her boyfriend had recently pledged the fraternity.

She claimed he was forced by PSP’s president to “chug over a

“I THINK THESE WOMEN, MUCH LIKE MYSELF, ARE AFRAID TO COME FORWARD FOR FEAR OF RETALIATION.” - email from “A Concerned Alumna” pint of alcohol and beer.” The student suggested that PSP be “investigated further because it is ridiculous. Someone is going to end up dead.”

Brown asked if the student would be willing to testify.

She refused.

“I am sorry,” she wrote, “but I do not want to be targeted around campus.”

Twelve years later the Office of Student Conduct received a message from an alumna who shared remorse for not speaking up against PSP during her time at CMU. According to the 2018 report, she said PSP subjected CMU students to harm and abuse both in and out of Greek Life. She also alleged that members haze not only fraternity brothers, but also sorority women.

“Party at their ‘house’ and the risk you take is great,” she wrote.

Solo cups intended for guests are drugged and men sexually assault women, she reported. Women like her are afraid to come forward for fear of retaliation, she claimed.

Retaliation, such as social stigma and targeting, is a concern expressed in several complaints against PSP. According to CMU’s sexual misconduct policy, retaliation is defined as an adverse action taken against a person because that person reported sexual misconduct or retaliation, or cooperated in an OCRIE investigation. She said members of Greek Life have retaliated in the past and CMU failed to intervene.

“To say it simply, men in this fraternity treat others inhumanly,” she wrote. “I know the allegations I just made are serious but what I have said is just the beginning of bringing PSP into the light. It is only the tip of their iceberg; the rest of it is in their basement.”

An August 2018 email between Idema, Sherry Knight, vice president of University Communications, and others referenced the alumna’s allegations.

“Please note the lines that mention notifications have been made and CMU failed to intervene,” Idema said. “That makes it sound like we are no different than MSU.” Any kind of retaliation against accusers would not be acceptable, Head said. He added that he has never been aware of any form of retaliation and that PSP would not condone that kind of behavior.

“We would not punish the accusers. We would hold ourselves to a higher standard,” he said.

CMU cannot take any action to coerce victims to file a complaint if they fear retaliation, Voisin said. Although many women stated they were discouraged from speaking out against the fraternity, it is not within the university’s powers to encourage them to come forward.

“I can’t answer why some individuals would not come forward,” Voisin said. “If you’re asking me, if anyone is causing harm to another individual, I want to know about it. But it is an individual’s preference to decide to come forward. I can’t force someone to file a complaint.”

ALLEGATIONS OF NON-CONSENSUAL PORNOGRAPHY In 2017, PSP members were accused of distributing photos of a student taken during a sex act, which were photographed without the woman’s consent. The images of her performing oral sex on a fraternity brother were then allegedly shared among PSP. The woman reported to the CMU Police Department that she had been texting a PSP brother, whom she met on Tinder. They decided to hookup. At 2 a.m., she arrived at his residence hall room, the report stated. She told police and her Campbell Hall RA that the man asked her if she would “let his boys hit it.” She said no.

The two had sex in the main room of the dormitory, which the woman reportedly thought was “weird.” While they were having

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APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

sex, the woman reported that the man’s roommate – another PSP member – walked through the main room and said, “Oh, I’m next.”

He implied he was going to “tap in.” He asked if they could have a threesome and the woman declined, the report stated.

After they finished having sex, the man asked her if she would have sex with his roommate. She said no, the report stated, but did agree to give him oral sex.

While she was performing oral sex on the man’s roommate, she became aware of someone standing behind her, the report stated.

The next day, she received a Snapchat message from a former boyfriend: the image of a half-naked woman performing oral sex on a man who was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.

The woman’s face was not in the image, but the student recognized herself.

She captured the image and sent it to the man she met on Tinder. She told him she was not OK with the photo and she would be contacting police. He offered to tell her who sent the photo if she agreed to keep his name out of the report. He told her the photo was shared by his roommate. The woman told her RA that she believed all of the men who lived in the room were PSP members and the photo was shared in a group message with fraternity brothers.

The man then blocked her on Snapchat and unmatched with her on Tinder.

She provided CMUPD with the photo and screenshots of conversations between her and fraternity members. In the report, the woman said she felt violated and uncomfortable knowing the photo was taken and shared. Police explained the image was a possible violation of Michigan’s “non-consensual pornography” law, which prohibits the dissemination of photos or videos of sexual encounters without consent.

Because the sexual act was consensual, and took place in the common space of the residence hall room, the Isabella County Prosecutor’s Office declined to move forward with the case.

Although the “common room” is part of a student’s living space, along with a bathroom and bedroom, the student was told she had no expectation of privacy, according to a Dec. 18, 2017 email between Idema and CMUPD Lt. Mike Sienkiewicz.

Sienkiewicz explained that the elements of the photo did not fit the non-consensual pornography law. Because there was no nudity showing in a photo, nor was the woman’s underwear showing, there was no evidence that a sex act was actually being performed, he said.

The criminal complaint was dropped. As of December 2018, the university is still investigating the complaint as an OCRIE case.

Another complaint describes a PSP member videotaping himself having sex with an intoxicated woman and sharing that video with fraternity brothers. The report was filed by the man’s RA (the name of the hall was redacted by the university). The RA overheard men arguing about rape allegations made against one of them.

Although the man said he did not sexually assault the woman, he did admit to recording their sex act and explained he had apologized to her. After the RA filed her report, no formal OCRIE or criminal charges were pursued.

ALLEGATIONS OF USING DATE RAPE DRUGS As far back as 2012, the university received complaints about PSP drugging women at parties. The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities cited an attempted sexual assault that was reported by a faculty member. The only information reported about this incident through the FOIA request shows that a PSP member reportedly used GHB (a central nervous system depressant commonly known as the “date rape drug”) to incapacitate a woman.

Before a sexual assault could occur, others stepped in, the 2012 report states, and “removed the woman from the situation.”

In 2017, two other women reported that PSP members put Xanax in women’s drinks at social events. They claimed fraternity brothers put drugs in a wine bag and served the drink to their guests.

In a report filed by Joseph Finney, assistant director of Student Conduct, members of Panhellenic Council requested to meet after receiving allegations that PSP was drugging women. They said they had spoken to women who observed others coming home after a PSP social event in a coherent state, but then suddenly being “out of it.”

One of the women reported an incident that happened during her freshman year. She and another woman shared one beer that

a fraternity brother had given them. It was the last thing they remembered until they woke up the following day.

In the report, she stated that the party was on Main Street in a house with no letters, later identified as the PSP “B house.” She was told by a sorority sister that she couldn’t stand up on her own and kept falling over. She also vomited throughout the night.

In another 2017 complaint, an RA described caring for a woman who had been throwing up for four hours after attending a PSP house party. After the RHD and police arrived at the room, the woman’s roommate told them she drank two Smirnoff Ices, wine and some shots. Although the woman drank less than usual at the party, the report stated that she said she felt much worse than usual. The woman was transported to McLaren and given a toxicology screen.

The report confirmed that she had a date rape drug in her system.

ENCOUNTERS WITH POLICE Isabella County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a nuisance party in 2015 at PSP’s house in Union Township.

More than 200 people were clearing out of the party when a PSP member ran toward the door.

“Fuck ‘em,” he said, and slammed the door on Deputy Jon Szafranski, who later went to McLaren Emergency Room with injuries. X-rays showed a fracture in one of his fingers. The PSP member was arrested, according to the report. Two members of PSP were issued tickets for hosting a nuisance party and three other members were cited for attending a nuisance party.

In an email sent to the PSP member who injured the deputy, Idema outlined how the student had violated the CMU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures. A typical sanction for this type of violation is a one-year suspension, Idema said. However, the student only received a one-semester

CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019

9

Spring 2016 semester.

“Due to your attitude, remorse and well thought out educational and career plan, I have reduced the sanction,” Idema said in the email. “I hope you have learned a very important lesson about how alcohol can impact our judgment.”

On March 17, 2018, PSP reportedly hosted a St. Patrick’s Day social event at their chapter house. According to a report filed by the Office of Student Conduct, there were 200-300 people in attendance.

The report stated that PSP had submitted documentation to host a social event on St. Patrick’s Day to the Office of Student Activities and Involvement, but that request was denied.

The Isabella County Sheriff responded to the party and reportedly found broken bottles thrown at the apartment building and people standing on cars.

“I was told that CMUPD may have arrested the fraternity president during this event but I don’t have any confirmation or information on that,” the sheriff told the Office of Student Conduct in the report.

At 12:43 a.m. on April 29, 2018, the Mount Pleasant Police Department and medical authorities were dispatched to 503 S. Main St. DEATH OF A BROTHER Kevin Ajluni, a PSP member, was airlifted to Saginaw Covenant Hospital after falling down a flight of stairs. He suffered from a skull fracture and a brain bleed, according to the police report. Ajluni died May 3, 2018 from his injuries.

Earlier in the day on April 28, PSP hosted a “Senior Sendoff” event, when outgoing seniors would traditionally say their farewells to fraternity members, Head said. That event ended in the early afternoon.

Later that evening, several fraternity members were at the former PSP president’s house on Main Street getting ready to go out to a bar, Head said.

Sometime later, after people left the house, a PSP member who stayed behind heard noises coming from the basement. He went downstairs, found Ajluni and called the police, according to Head.

Ajluni, who was 21, had been drinking throughout the night.

Police determined his blood alcohol level was .242 percent, which is more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent. The death, Head emphasized, was not a result of hazing or any kind

Cody Scanlan | Photo Editor

The PSP house sits on March 30 at Deerfield Village Apartments.

of violation of the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures. “(Kevin’s death) was a huge loss,” Head said. “But instead of being able to come together to grieve, (PSP members) were met by a visceral response from the university.”

On Aug. 21, 2018, PSP was charged with violating three sections of the Code of Students Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures, one of which was an alcohol-related violation. The fraternity was temporarily suspended. The Office of Student Conduct cited the March 17 and April 28 events as part of the investigation.

“Instead of having respect for your own student body, (CMU) took sanctions that they couldn’t even afford to have a hearing over,” Head said. “It’s insulting.”

FUTURE OF PHI SIGMA PHI

“(CMU) TOOK SANCTIONS THAT THEY COULDN’T EVEN AFFORD TO HAVE A HEARING OVER.” - Shawn Head, PSP National Risk Management Director

Though the severity of the punishment might have surprised some in Greek Life, few were surprised that PSP seemed to have finally crossed a line with university administrators from which they could not return. After the fraternity was banned, social media was filled with comments and questions from people wondering why the university waited so long to take action.

After years of complaints and investigations, CMU chose to disassociate itself from PSP, though the fraternity had not been charged with crimes or been successfully investigated by Idema’s office or OCRIE. “The relevant offices to which the allegations were reported did what they could to investigate,” Voisin said. “Given the lack of cooperation from complainants and witnesses, there were no findings. However, as the allegations continued to mount, the university determined that it had to act to remove the group’s recognition.”

Head said CMU relied heavily on unproven allegations when it revoked recognition of the chapter. He also said the university did not state in its revocation letter to PSP that any of the past accusations related to sexual assault or hazing.

“The university saved any mention of sexual assault and hazing for its salacious press release and announcements to the student body,” Head said. “That is how our members first heard that there had been anonymous accusations of sexual assault, from an unspecified time periods, by some unnamed alleged members. How can our current members respond to or defend themselves against such vague accusations?”

Other than having its status changed to an “unaffiliated fraternity,” not much else has changed for the members of PSP. They reside in the same fraternity house. They have the full support of their national office. They even continue to do philanthropy work, according to recent social media posts from the fraternity.

Greek Life organizations at CMU continue to fraternize with PSP. And yet, the fraternity’s darker reputation remains: If students attend a PSP party, they may be putting themselves at risk.

One sorority woman – who refused to be identified for this story out of fear of retaliation from her sorority sisters – was asked: If you were standing in the doorway of the PSP house and a group of freshman girls walked up, asking you if they should go inside, what would you say?

The woman said she would urge the girls to leave immediately.

She would tell the girls that PSP had been kicked off campus and share the story of how she had been drugged by a member of the fraternity.

“I would tell them to turn around and walk away.”

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APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

PSP’s national continues to support Xi chapter

By Melissa Frick University Editor news@cm-life.com

Though the Xi chapter of Phi Sigma Phi has been accused of more than a dozen complaints of sexual misconduct, use of date rape drugs, hazing and inappropriate behavior, it continues to operate with the support of its national chapter.

PSP National Director of Risk Management Shawn Head, a 2005 Central Michigan University alumnus and Xi chapter brother, asserted the national organization stands with its brothers.

“Until there is a finding of misconduct, we will support our members as long as they continue to uphold their obligations to the fraternity,” Head said. “We will absolutely support them.”

When CMU announced its decision to remove PSP on Oct. 9, 2018, that was the first time the fraternity had heard of the accusations of sexual misconduct and hazing, Head said.

PSP only received information about the complaints against them, Head explained, after submitting

a Freedom of Information Act request to CMU for all documents regarding the allegations, Head said.

If CMU had notified the fraternity of the complaints, he said PSP would have cooperated with any univerSHAWN HEAD sity investigation.

“If the national fraternity had any knowledge of any of our members doing anything such as sexual assault, or a major hazing violation – or any of the things we have been accused of doing – we would have absolutely investigated those things ourselves and taken swift and permanent action,” Head said.

Head’s main concern with the accusations is that none of the accusers decided to come forward.

Many of the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity complaints ended when the women declined to move forward, citing a fear of retaliation from PSP members and other sororities and fraternities.

“Anybody can accuse anybody of anything at any time,” Head said.

“That’s why we have policies and procedures, and the right to have a hearing or have due process. None of that happened.”

Head argued that CMU treated PSP unfairly in its decision to remove the fraternity, and did not follow its own Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures. Section 5.2 of the code outlines student hearing procedures for violations of the code of student conduct.

He said the fraternity was never afforded a hearing. Head’s assertion that PSP deserved a hearing would fall under the Office of Student Conduct, within the student code.

However, the decision to remove the fraternity was made by university officials based on the number of accusations and the lack of cooperation from witnesses and PSP members. When CMU ended PSP’s status as a Registered Student Organization, the decision came from Steven Johnson, vice president of Enrollment and Student Services, not from the Office of Student Conduct.

“A trail of repeated, similar accusations against Phi Sigma Phi over the past several years shows a significant threat to the safety of our students,” Johnson said in the press release announcing PSP’s removal. “Our concerns have been affirmed multiple times by the inability to find witnesses willing to discuss allegations.”

While Head believes the university violated its own code of conduct rules, Tony Voisin, associate vice president of Student Affairs said the fraternity losing its recognition was an RSO action.

“None of what happened to PSP is a code of conduct situation. It was not a disciplinary situation,” he said. “This was taking away recognition of an RSO.” The university has the right to recognize or disassociate with RSOs, regardless of the code of conduct, Voisin said. He acknowledged that the university did not follow the code of conduct, because it was not a conduct issue.

The decision came from CMU’s concern over student safety after numerous allegations against the fraternity.

“The university stands by its decision,” Voisin said. “This was not a rush to judgment.”

Johnson also cautioned students to avoid the group and events they host.

Following the announcement, PSP’s attorneys sent the university a cease and desist letter. The letter, sent to Mary Roy, CMU assistant general counsel on Oct. 11, 2018, stated Johnson’s press release was incorrect and defamatory.

“You are hereby directed to cease and desist from making further statements relating to Phi Sigma Phi and the Xi Chapter,” the letter stated. “Additionally, you are directed to retract the statement as it is false and defamatory.

“Should Phi Sigma Phi learn you made further defamatory statements or you refuse to retract the statements previously made, it retains the right to proceed with a lawsuit to clear its name and seek compensation for the damage to its reputation.”

In an April 4, 2019 interview with Head, he said that pursing litigation against the university is “still on the table.”

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CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019

Student media charged more than $1,000

by CMU for FOIA request

By Dylan Goetz Community Editor news@cm-life.com

Central Michigan Life was charged $1,055.52 by Central Michigan University for 33 documents with more than 1,300 pages after filing a Freedom of Information Act request on Oct. 22, 2018.

The student publication received the heavily-redacted documents two months later on Dec. 13, 2018.

In today’s edition, CM Life published multiple stories regarding its investigation into Phi Sigma Phi’s permanent removal from CMU. This is what it took to acquire public documents regarding PSP and the investigation into the fraternity. What follows is a breakdown of the FOIA request’s

status over the course of 52 days, including an example of the cost estimates.

Editor-in-Chief Emma Dale physically submitted a Freedom of Information Request on Oct. 22 to the General Counsel office, located at 1303 West Campus Drive.

The request, however, was not processed until the next day, despite Dale dropping it off on Monday, Oct. 22. CM Life received a response about her request six business days after she dropped it off.

After checking in with General Counsel, Kathy Kelly, senior legal assistant cited a “mix up.”

“Our office mistakenly recorded your FOI request as received on Oct. 23, 2018 — which would mean a response is due today — rather than Oct. 22, which required a response yesterday, Oct. 29,” Freedom of Informa-

tion Officer Mary Roy said in an Oct. 30 email. “We apologize for this oversight.”

Due to the amount of records that the FOIA requested, a 10-business day extension was taken.

On Nov. 12, the final day of the extension, CM Life was sent a response regarding a good faith deposit of 50 percent of the total estimated cost of the request.

The university required CM Life to pay $427.24 before General Counsel could further process the request. Until payment was received, processing of the request was paused.

The estimation form attached to the email noted it would take 16 total hours for Tom Idema, director of Student Conduct and Joe Finney, assistant director of Student Conduct to collect the documents at $30.55 per hour and $25 per hour, respectively.

CM Life was charged for their workdays.

It was also estimated that it would take General Counsel eight hours to redact the identifying information at the rate of $51.26 per hour, totaling $410.08.

The estimation form approximated that the full request would cost $854.48. In the end, CM Life paid $1,055.52, which was $201.04 more than what was

11

originally estimated.

The final cost estimation form noted that it took General Counsel four more hours to redact the information than they originally estimated.

CM Life’s final payment was $628.28, totaling $1,055.52.

Dale picked up the documents in person on Dec. 13, 2018. The records were placed on a DVD with a cover letter.

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APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

STAFF EDITORIAL

One-in-four women will be sexually assaulted during their time at a university. According to the National Institute of Justice, 25 percent of sexually assaulted women are members of a sorority.

In today’s edition, we presented a special investigation by Central Michigan Life into the dismissal of the Phi Sigma Phi fraternity from Central Michigan University. The magnitude of these allegations cited in reports by the university are shocking. What’s even more shocking is almost no one was ever charged with a crime in these alleged incidents.

We interviewed a sorority woman who told us she was drugged at a PSP party. Her sisters, concerned that she had been drugged, took her home and looked after her. She was not taken to the hospital – they did not call the police.

Today, that woman still attends PSP parties. She goes because her sorority insists on partying with the chapter, even now after it has been kicked off campus.

She watches over her friends in case one of them gets in “trouble.”

Women join sororities to be involved on campus, to volunteer for philanthropies and to build life-long friendships with like-minded women who become their sisters.

Greek Life, and CMU in general, has normalized some of the worst parts of college party culture – Harassment, peer pressure, excusing sexual assault, binge-drinking.

The “norm” at CMU should not be knowing that fraternities are under investigation for complaints about harming students and still attending events with them.

We want to clear up one thing immediately: We believe most fraternities and sororities embody the best of what Greek Life can offer students. Fellowship, networking, philanthropy and social events provide students with CMU memories they will treasure.

So when those organizations support unaffiliated fraternities who seem to go against everything they stand for, it’s confusing. The stories and opinions shared in this edition are part of a crucial conversation we need to have at CMU. Many fraternity and sorority members are more concerned about hiding problems

EDITORIAL and protecting party culture, than they are standing up for each other.

Sororities who are still having socials with PSP: Stop.

Show some integrity. Make our campus a place known for safety, transparency and being there for your peers.

When an organization gets suspended, people in Greek Life like to say it’s only the few bad people in the community that make everyone look bad. In the past 24 months, four Greek organizations have been suspended. That’s not just a few bad people, that is a systemic problem. We understand that you can’t control other people’s actions, but knowing there’s a problem, and looking the other way and supporting unaffiliated fraternities, makes you a part of the problem, too.

The only people who can stand up and address the obvious problems happening in Greek Life are the fraternity and sorority members themselves. Stand up to men who prey on your sisters. Stand up for each other.

Stand against sexual assault.

Greeks, you have the power to make a major, impactful change. You’re a part of a larger community than most students. You’re responsible for the culture, and you have the power to change the climate of our community.

We, and the rest of CMU, will stand behind you.

Enough is enough. Change Greek Life for the better.

No more silence. No retaliation. It’s time for a change.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMMA DALE MANAGING EDITOR EMILLY DAVIS UNIVERSITY MELISSA FRICK COMMUNITY DYLAN GOETZ SPORTS ANDREW MCDONALD EVAN PETZOLD PHOTO CODY SCANLAN DESIGN SADIE YOUSE MULTIMEDIA NATALIE MCCORVIE PODCAST BRENT GUNN

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Central Michigan Life, the independent voice of Central Michigan University, is edited and published by students of Central Michigan University every Monday, and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. The newspaper’s online edition, cm-life.com, contains all of the material published in print, and is updated on an as-needed basis.

Central Michigan Life serves the CMU and Mount Pleasant communities, and is under the jurisdiction of the independent Student Media Board of Directors.

Dave Clark serves as Director of Student Media at CMU and is the adviser to the newspaper. Articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of Central Michigan University. Central Michigan Life is a member of the Associated Press, the Michigan Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press, College Newspaper Business & Advertising Managers Association, the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, Central Michigan Home Builders Association, Mount Pleasant Housing Association and the Mount Pleasant Downtown Business Association. The newspaper’s online provider is SN Works.

Central Michigan Life is distributed throughout the campus and at numerous locations throughout Mount Pleasant. Non-university subscriptions are $75 per academic year. Back copies are available at 50 cents per copy, or $1 if mailed.

Photocopies of stories are 25 cents each. Digital copies of photographs published in Central Michigan Life are available upon request at specified costs.

Central Michigan Life’s editorial and business offices are located at 436 Moore Hall, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, telephone (989) 774-3493 or 774-LIFE.

13

CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019

We can't discuss sexual assault and ignore retaliation This year, I met two women who were drugged at a fraternity house party. They did not report the incident because they were afraid of what might happen if they did.

They took drinks out of the same, single beer they were given while attending a Phi Sigma Phi party.

Luckily, they were taken home by their sorority sisters. But the police were never called and they were never taken to the hospital. They didn’t even realize they had been drugged until one of their sisters told them what happened that night – nearly a year later. The women said the incident was treated by their sisters in a very nonchalant manner.

It was made clear to them by their sisters that they should not report what had happened that night to anyone.

These women want to share their story because want other women to learn from their experience. They want others to know that if they had come forward, they expected to face retaliation from their fellow Greeks.

They were afraid of not only being shunned from their sorority, but alienated and bullied by the Greek men and women they had become close friends with.

Their story needs to be told. It’s one of thousands that play out at universities all over the country every year. More than 20 percent of female student victims, ages 18-24 do not report sexual violence because they “have a fear of reprisal,” according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. I’ve made friends with a lot of sorority members throughout my time as a student here. I’ve seen the great things that can come from being in a sorority. I’ve watched my friends raise thousands of dollars for multiple charities, and receive amazing growth and career opportunities they wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.

I’ve also heard what can only be called horror stories from my friends in sororities about being groped, harassed and even drugged at fraternity parties. No matter how objectively awful and wrong all that is, I know they’ll never report these incidents to university administrators or police because they are genuinely terrified of what others in the Greek community might do if they did.

Retaliation is a dark, ugly part of Greek Life. However, it is not only fraternity and sorority members who are at fault. The problem is much bigger than that: The true problem lies in the policy and system that is supposed to protect us.

PSP was kicked off CMU’s campus in October 2018. According to the PSP case history provided by the university, their removal was based

Emilly Davis Managing Editor on 14 incidents from 2015-2018, four of which were sexual assaults and two were drugging women.

Not only did it take six incidents of women being assaulted and drugged

by PSP members for the university to intervene, but the case history noted, “In addition to these reports, there are other reports prior to 2015 that are of a similar nature and show a continuing pattern of dangerous behavior.”

I read the descriptions of these incidents in the 33 documents obtained by Central Michigan Life about PSP – totaling more than 1,300 pages. Some of the assaults happened as long ago as the early 2000s. Like most of you reading this are probably wondering, I wanted to know how on Earth it was possible something so horrible that the university administrators clearly knew about could continue for so long.

The answer is in the case history: “Over the history of the fraternity at CMU, there were numerous rumors and accusations of sexual assaults, and people being drugged at PSP social events. Nothing came from these accusations and rumors, because no one was ever willing to be a witness/complainant and proceed with filling an official report. It is assumed they were concerned about retaliation from PSP,” it states.

However, that poses a much larger problem. If the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity suspect retaliation against the complainant, it is supposed to be investigated.

CMU’s sexual misconduct policy prohibits any university community member to commit retaliation of any nature against another community member. Retaliation is defined in the policy as an “adverse action taken against a person because that person either complained of sexual misconduct or retaliation in good faith, cooperated in an investigation through the policy or its procedures.”

Allegations of retaliation are to be treated as a separate allegation of a violation under CMU’s sexual misconduct policy, it states. Reports of alleged sexual misconduct or retaliation should be reported to Katherine Lasher, Title IX coordinator.

The policy states Lasher is responsible for overseeing CMU’s response to all allegations of sexual misconduct and identifying and addressing any “patterns or

Courtesy of Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

systematic problems uncovered during the review of these allegations.”

Personally, I believe that a fraternity that is known and accepted by the community as a place where women get drugged and sexually assaulted to be a large systemic problem, so I wanted to know why Lasher hadn’t identified and addressed it. And if she did, why was the CMU community not made aware of the danger earlier?

I made multiple attempts to get in contact with University Communications, OCRIE and Lasher with questions I had after reading all of the PSP documents.

One of them was: What is being done by OCRIE to end the culture of fear and retaliation that surrounds sexual assault in our community, especially in Greek Life?

I never received an answer to that, or any of my questions.

The majority of decisions about sexual misconduct policies and handling sexual misconduct investigations are made by the administration of a college or university. Because of that, no two university sexual misconduct policies are the same and every university addresses retaliation differently.

For example, Michigan State

University’s policy specifically prohibits retaliation and retaliatory harassment. It includes that during a retaliation investigation if the Office of Institutional Equity determines retaliation occurred, the person will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal for students, and termination for employees.

At Grand Valley State University, in addition to reporting an incident or complaint to the Title IX Coordinator, students have the ability to report anonymously through the university’s website. All reports are processed and considered equally, regardless of anonymity.

GVSU’s policy emphasizes that if the Title IX coordinator determines that a report of prohibited conduct reveals suspected involvement, or a pattern of behavior by a particular student group or organization such as a fraternity, the coordinator may impose any “appropriate protective measures,” including education and prevention training for the group.

The coordinator may also consult with university officials regarding any appropriate university action to be taken against the student group or organization, including suspension or termination of their status with the university.

Other universities seem to

acknowledge there is a culture of fear and retaliation that must be addressed and fought against in order to investigate sexual assault.

These policies are a great step toward preventing and ending the toxic behavior retaliation stems from.

Why doesn’t CMU understand this?

Not only does the university’s sexual misconduct policy say nothing about about taking action against a student group or organization, the policy doesn’t even give OCRIE power to investigate a group. OCRIE also does not permit or consider anonymous reports. Additionally, the policy says nothing about what sanctions a student might face if found to have committed retaliation.

The policy as it’s written now enables retaliation and allows a culture of sexual assault and fear to thrive on our campus. Reports of sexual misconduct cannot be filed anonymously, but a lot of victims are too afraid of what might happen if they come forward. And even if they do work up the courage to report the incident to OCRIE, the office might not even be able to do anything about it.

Let’s say a woman is drugged and groped at a fraternity party. Like the two women I mentioned earlier, she most likely has no idea who exactly drugged her, and she might not even know who assaulted her, but she knows what fraternity house she was at when it happened. Under the policy, that’s not enough. If she were to report the incident to OCRIE, she would be told the office cannot make any significant action without specific names of individuals.

CMU: This system is not working anymore. Our society is always changing, so it only makes sense that the policies set in place to protect us change too. CMU’s current sexual misconduct policy is not serving to protect its students in every way possible.

Greek Life: I believe that for the most part, you get a bad reputation you don’t deserve. I have many friends who are Greek men and women, and I know they are kind-hearted people who are fully aware of the problems in their culture. They, and you, have the power to stand against the very real threat of retaliation. If you don’t, you can’t hope to stand against sexual assault — the two go hand-in-hand.

Enough is enough.

I don’t want to attend a university where women are sexually assaulted and then shamed and forced into silence by their peers. As a student who is about to graduate, I definitely won’t support a university with an administration who knows about the problem and continues to ignore it.

A

14

APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

Cody Scanlan | Photo Editor

The former Phi Kappa Tau house sits on April 6 on the corner of Main and May Street.

Unrecognized Greek chapters can still party, recruit without university oversight

fter investigating claims of sexual assault and bad behavior that date back to 2015, Central Michigan University permanently removed its chapter of Phi Sigma Phi in 2018.

If national trends at other universities are any indication, losing affiliation with the university won’t have much of an affect on the fraternity. In fact, it might make the situation within the fraternity, and the university community, worse.

Losing affiliation from the university doesn’t mean fraternities stop partying and recruiting members, said Damon Brown, director of the Office of Student Activities and Involvement.

CMU has virtually no control over unaffiliated fraternities and sororities that are still recognized by their national chapters.

“We recommended that students stay away from (Phi Sigma Phi) and don’t affiliate with them,” said Tony Voisin, associate vice president of Student Affairs. “There really isn’t anything more we can do.”

OPERATING IN THE SHADOWS

BY ANDREW MULLIN • Staff Reporter

15

CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019

Andrew Mullin | Staff Reporter

Pi Kappa Phi and Phi Kappa Tau merchandise is for sale on clearance on April 12, 2019, in the Central Michigan University Bookstore, 1200 S. Franklin St., Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

When PSP was kicked off campus last fall, it joined a growing list of suspended Greek organizations. It became the fourth Greek organization to lose university recognition in the past 24 months, joining Phi Kappa Tau, Pi Kappa Phi and Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc. Some fraternities and sororities lose recognition from the university, while other groups lose affiliation from its national chapter, according to CMU’s website. When a fraternity or sorority loses university recognition, they are no longer allowed to participate in CMUsponsored events.

These groups were suspended due to incidents involving alcohol misconduct, hazing and sexual assault, according to CMU’s website.

Organizations permanently removed from CMU: • Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity • Delta Chi Fraternity • Phi Sigma Phi Fraternity Organizations currently suspended by CMU and/or national organizations: • Theta Chi Fraternity • Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity • Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity • Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity • Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity • Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. Pi Kappa Phi, one of the recent suspensions, was suspended for reasons relating to alcohol misuse and hosting events after being temporarily suspended. Sigma Lambda Gamma was suspended after hazing allegations.

Many suspended and unrecognized Greek organizations continue to operate with little to no oversight, which can still pose a risk to

students. Former student Andrew Seely was hazed in an incident in 2016 while pledging with an unaffiliated fraternity, Alpha Chi Rho. Fraternity brothers spread peanut butter all over Seely’s face, who was highly allergic to peanuts. Seely had to be hospitalized. A fraternity pledge, who took part in the ritual, ended up turning himself in to police.

Nationally, there seems to be a trend of hazing with unrecognized fraternities. According to a TIME magazine article, a State University of New York freshman died after an off-campus party. He was a pledge to Alpha Pi, a fraternity unaffiliated with the university. The house he was found unconscious outside of had fellow fraternity brothers living in it. He died with alcohol and drugs in his system, with toxicology reports citing benzodiazepines, amphetamines, THC and a small amount of alcohol in his system, the article stated.

Unrecognized fraternities operating at universities might prove to be a greater risk to students. In 2019, the book, “Fraternity: An Inside Look at a Year of College Boys Becoming Men” was published. In the book, report and author Alexandria Robbins discusses her experiences following two fraternity brothers throughout a school year.

When it comes to unaffiliated fraternities, Robbins said students in these organizations feel they don’t have to follow their university’s rules.

“Unrecognized fraternities may feel that they have no one to answer to, which means they may not think they’re accountable for their behaviors,” Robbins said. “That’s not to say all of them are bad groups — just that there’s less supervision and less accountability, which in some

chapters could be problematic.”

Despite not being recognized by a university, many fraternities continue to operate without university oversight. According to an article from the Chronicle of Higher Education, many of these fraternities continue to recruit new members and host events. They might even look desirable to undergraduates to join since there are less rules to follow, the article stated.

Along with lack of control from universities, the national chapters who disaffiliate with specific chapters also feel they have lost control of these “rouge” chapters. In the article, Wynn Smiley, chief executive of Alpha Tau Omega, said he lost all control of their chapter at American University when the national chapter became unaffiliated.

The article stated the fraternity became more reckless after disaffiliation.

Mount Pleasant City Planner Jacob Kain said that fraternities and sororities are only allowed to have Greek letters on their houses if they are recognized by the university. Phi Sigma Phi’s letters are still up in sight at their house in Deerfield Village Apartments.

Kain said this is because the house is located in Union Township, which is outside of the city’s jurisdiction.

Phi Sigma Phi and Pi Kappa Phi and are also still active on social media. When it comes to recognized chapters hosting events with unrecognized organizations, Voisin it’s up to the national chapter to enforce discipline. Therefore, he said there is very little the university can do to stop this from taking place.

A student could take a trip to the CMU Bookstore, or it’s website, and purchase a variety of Greek merchandise from suspended

and disaffiliated groups. This includes a Phi Sigma Phi decal, flags from Sigma Lambda Gamma and a Delta Chi lavalier. According to the bookstore’s website, the store, “..is owned and operated by Central Michigan University. Every penny spent in our store stays here on campus to help fund campus programs and course material scholarships.”

CMU Bookstore vendor Deborah Stack said the bookstore buys the products from the company Affinity, who manages royalties for Greek organizations. She said the CMU Bookstore still sells these items because it sells items to other colleges and universities.

Voisin said some national chapters take matters in their own hands and force fraternities to disband and take their letters down.

The national chapters will sometimes come in and take down letters from the houses that they no longer want to affiliate with.

“They come in the middle of the night sometimes and pull composites off the wall without even telling (the chapter) that they’re coming,” Voisin said.

As far as the university goes, they are unable to control what unrecognized organizations do or how they operate, Brown said.

They can only remove university recognition and warn students not to get involved with them.

“Students will walk down Main Street and they see that so-and-so is here but not on the (Greek Life organizations) list and say ‘Why are they not on the list?’” Brown said.

“Put two and two together, they’re not here.

But they still promote (and) they still market themselves as (affiliated).

“As a university we only do so much to inform students. At the end of the day, students will make their own decisions.”

16

APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

Navigating the OCRIE process How universities investigate sexual misconduct differs; CMU policy gives choice to survivors

By Emilly Davis Managing Editor news@cm-life.com

Nervous. Numb. Scared. Intimidated.

That’s how Traverse city junior Brin Forlenza remembers feeling as a freshman at Central Michigan University after she reported being sexually assaulted to the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity.

Forlenza was assaulted at an off-campus apartment in the early hours of Oct. 30, 2016 by a Kellogg Community College student who was visiting campus. The day after she was assaulted, Forlenza had an SANE exam done and was instructed by the sheriff at the hospital to OCRIE and report what happened to her. She made an appointment to meet with a Title IX investigator.

When Forlenza arrived at the office, she was not greeted by the investigator she spoke to, but was instead met by Katherine Lasher, OCRIE director and Title IX Coordinator. Forlenza said she was thrown off and upset when Lasher asked her to share her story again.

“When you’re in that traumatic state, disclosing to so many people is like re-victimizing,” Forlenza said. “Anytime you have to start talking about it, it’s like you feel yourself in that bed with them again. You’re putting yourself in that situation again every time.”

Lasher was very “informative” during their meeting, Forlenza said. She told her about on-campus resources for survivors, like Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates. Forlenza remembers signing some documents and being told OCRIE could not do much more to help her. Lasher told her OCRIE could not do anything except refer her to Kellogg’s Title IX Coordinator, Harold West.

“Once she found out (my attacker) was from a different college, it was like, ‘Okay, we’re done here,’” Forlenza said.

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT POLICY CMU’s sexual misconduct policy details all of the university’s procedures and guidelines in regards to sexual misconduct.

The first line of the policy itself states that acts of sexual misconduct and retaliation both on-and-off campus are prohibited. Sexual misconduct is defined in the policy as including, but not limited to, dating violence, domestic violence and intimate partner violence, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking. In March 2015, a revised sexual misconduct policy was implemented. The White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault was established in January 2014 with a mandate to strengthen federal enforcement efforts and provide schools with additional tools to help combat sexual assault on campus. The university’s policy was updated in accordance with that mandate.

The revised policy requires OCRIE to perform sexual misconduct investigations instead of the Office of Student Conduct. However, if students who violate the policy receive sanctions, the sanction would be issued from the Office of Student Conduct.

The policy also requires all CMU staff and faculty to report information about sexual misconduct to Lasher.

Resident assistants and multicultural advisers are consid-

OCRIE INVESTIGATIONS The Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity opened

268 FILES involving incidents or complaints under

CMU’S SEXUAL MISCONDUCT POLICY between Jan. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017, according to the Title IX summary report submitted to the State of Michigan Oct. 31, 2018. Of those 268 files,

19 WERE INVESTIGATED

by OCRIE. Source: CMU’s Title IX Summary Report

ered “mandatory reporters,” meaning students in these positions also must report sexual misconduct.

A 2015 Central Michigan Life story about the policy change detailed concerns raised by campus community members.

Some believed that the new policy would deter survivors from reporting sexual misconduct, because anything mentioned to a staff member might be investigated. There also was a concern that Title IX could prevent survivors from coming forward, despite the fact that it made it possible for more reports to be investigated.

Lasher said in the story that survivors have several options outlined in the new policy and that they “try to leave it up to the survivor to make his or her own decisions.”

INVESTIGATING A COMPLAINT OCRIE opened 268 files involving incidents or complaints under CMU’s sexual misconduct policy between Jan. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017, according to the October 2018 Title IX summary report submitted to the State of Michigan.

Of those 268 files, 19 were investigated by OCRIE. To initiate an investigation, OCRIE requests that a complainant prepare a “brief written statement of fact sufficient to put a reasonable person on notice of an alleged violation of the policy.” The statement may also be prepared by a third party on behalf of a complainant, or OCRIE will draft the complaint if the office is investigating an allegation without the complainant’s active participation.

The respondent, defined in the policy as the person accused of misconduct in the complaint, will be notified by OCRIE about the complaint. OCRIE provides the respondent with written notice of the allegations and a request to meet. If the respondent doesn’t wish to participate, OCRIE will carry out

its investigation based on available information. The respondent may still be subject to sanctions or disciplinary actions.

OCRIE’s investigatory powers include interviewing students, staff and faculty, inspecting documentary evidence or any other evidence that may be available.

At the end of its investigation, OCRIE will issue a “determination.” These include an overview of the investigation, a summary of all evidence testimony, findings and a conclusion as to whether or not a violation of the policy occurred and recommended sanctions to “eliminate the sexual misconduct, prevent its recurrence and remedy its effects.”

Although OCRIE and the Title IX coordinator is charged with the task of investigating allegations of sexual misconduct, the office does not implement any sanctions or punishment. Instead, OCRIE is required to recommend them to the sanctioning official. For students, that sanctioning official is the Tom Idema, director of the Office of Student Conduct.

If the sanctioning official finds a student responsible for sexual assault, the minimum required punishment is suspension.

Sexual misconduct is a violation of section 3.2.7.1 of the CMU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures, which states that students must adhere to the university’s sexual misconduct policy. The sexual misconduct policy itself does not specify mandatory punishments, but Section 4.4.11 of the Code of Student Rights states the minimum mandatory sanction for sexual assault is suspension.

There are many other possible sanctions, including removal from campus housing, a written reprimand, dismissal from extra-curricular activities and dismissal from CMU. In 2014, Students Advocating Gender Equality at CMU advocated for permanent dismissal to be the minimum punishment for students found responsible of sexual assault. The group delivered a letter to former President George Ross detailing their request which was part of an on-campus demonstration that ended in a march to his office in Warriner Hall.

Their online petition gathered more than 5,700 signatures of people who supported the change.

CM Life asked University Communications, OCRIE and the President’s Office what came of this petition, and nobody had any knowledge or information about the event.

According to CMU’s sexual misconduct policy, if a CMU student is sexually assaulted by someone who is not a member of the university community like when Forlenza was assaulted by the Kellogg Community College student, OCRIE may issue a trespass warning against that person, restrict where they may be on campus or help the victim file a no contact order against them. Forlenza said Lasher mentioned prohibiting the man from being able to “come near her dorm room,” but heard no mention of a no contact order until she spoke to West.

When asked what or who played a role in helping her through this process, she smiled and said, “Harold West.”

The difference in the way the two Title IX offices treated Forlenza was significant, she said. At CMU, Forlenza said it felt as if Lasher was there to deliver information about survivor resources and then “throw me out the door, kind of like a lawyer would.” West, however, was empathetic.

The first thing West said to her, Forlenza explained, was, “I want you to know I’m here for you. We’re here to fight for you and find the truth in this matter. If this guy’s guilty we’re gonna get him.”

When West reached out to Forlenza, he told her she would need to obtain any recordings or reports from CMU’s Title IX office. However, when Forlenza called the office, Lasher told her she had nothing to give her from the office. Their meeting was not recorded. Forlenza doesn’t remember Lasher taking any notes while she shared her story. The only thing Lasher gave West was the sheriff’s report.

“As someone who is studying criminal justice, and who is

17

CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019

What is OCRIE?

The Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity’s mission statement reads: To develop, encourage and promote a positive campus environment that enhances the underlying principles as well as the stated policies of affirmative action, diversity, and equal access for all, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, height, weight, marital status, familial status, disability, veterans status, sexual orientation, or political persuasion, except where such a distinction is required by law.

OCRIE Bovee University Center 306 Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48859 Office Email: ocrie@cmich.edu Phone: 989-774-3253 Fax: 989-774-2022

going to be working with victims in a legal sense, I know the first person you tell your story to is a huge thing – it shows consistency in your story, that the first time it’s disclosed is the same as the 100th time,” Forlenza said.

“For a lot of survivors, the OCRIE officer is probably one of the first people you’re disclosing your information to. For a lot of people when the assault is still so fresh like that, they’re going to probably be a lot more raw about the information they give you too.”

In 2015, Lasher told CM Life, “Our goal is to have the survivor only talk once to us about what happened, and I want to make sure they are ready and informed if they want to go forward.”

One of the most helpful things Kellogg’s Title IX office did for Forlenza, she said, was provide an advocate for her. Advocates, who are paid to be a survivor’s support system, are specifically trained to talk to someone who has been sexually assaulted. Forlenza said this is very helpful because they can help someone understand what happened to them, rather than simply asking, “Were you sexually assaulted?”

“That’s definitely something I think our Title IX office needs to look at,” Forlenza said. “When a victim comes in (to OCRIE) there should be an advocate in the room.

There’s a difference between a lawyer and an advocate – an advocate knows how to talk to people who are still in shock and are going through trauma.”

CM Life attempted to contact OCRIE to ask why the office does not automatically provide

complainants with an advocate, but received no response.

West immediately began investigating Forlenza’s complaint by interviewing people who had information about what happened that night – even friends of hers who were there but were no longer living in the state.

During the investigation, Forlenza’s attacker was not allowed to be on the community college’s campus. She said she appreciated that although she didn’t attend the school, Kellogg was doing everything it could to make sure she felt safe during the investigation.

The 19-year-old Jackson man was found to have committed sexual misconduct and dismissed from Kellogg.

The difference in the way the schools handled her complaint left Forlenza feeling disappointed in CMU and grateful for the empathy and support that Kellogg showed her. While the OCRIE meeting seemed like an obligation of CMU just to “get it done and over with,” Forlenza said, Kellogg offered her support and a chance to be heard.

Forlenza said the most important thing anyone in charge of a Title IX office can do is to make sure survivors feel safe and comfortable throughout the reporting process.

“If this was your child,” Forlenza asked, “how would you want this handled?” Forlenza said the most important thing anyone in charge of a Title IX office can do is to make sure survivors feel safe and comfortable throughout the reporting process.

“If this was your child,” Forlenza asked, “how would you want this handled?”

What is Title IX?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972: A federal civil rights statute that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs (including athletics programs) “No person in the United States, shall on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Katherine M. Lasher OCRIE executive director and Title IX coordinator Bovee University Center 306 lashe1km@cmich.edu​​​​​​ Source: CMU Office of Civil Rights and Instiutional Equity

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APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

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CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019

Silence of Greek leaders speaks louder than words Something most students probably don’t know a lot about is what Central Michigan Life is and who the people are behind the name.

You may see our social media posts, read stories on our website and read our print edition twice a week. But do you know who we really are?

We are your friends, the students sitting with you in your classes, the people you see around campus. We aren’t some far-off entity that has no connection with the student body or campus.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we care about the things you care about — the students, faculty, alumni, parents and community members reading this.

Our main goal is to report the news accurately. To tell you what you need to know about what is happening at Central Michigan University.

Following the publication of our special investigation into

Emma Dale Editor-in-Chief

the Phi Sigma Phi fraternity, and what led to the fraternity’s forever dismissal, I’m anticipating a lot of feedback from people, especially in Greek Life. They probably think we have it out for them.

That’s not the case.

I’m a student, just like you. I’m a young woman in college. I go out on the weekends. I’ve been to fraternity parties. I have friends involved in Greek Life.

We as the student newspaper at CMU have a duty to provide the campus and community with the truth.

Working for CM Life for almost four years now, I care about this campus with a deep passion. I care about what the culture is,

and what it will be after I leave. I care about the safety of my fellow students and friends. I want CMU to be a university I am proud to have attended.

So these tough stories we report, these tough questions we ask, these investigations we perform, are essential.

If I was not studying journalism, and had never worked at CM Life, I would still hope there was someone looking out for me. I would want there to some campus watchdog.

This year, CM Life scaled back our coverage of Greek Life – that was a decision I made as this year’s editor-in-chief. Last year, we tried to expand our coverage of Greek Life; to make it more than Greek Week coverage or Greeks cleaning the streets.

Yet, reporters and photographers were still given a hard time. A reporter who attempted to cover Interfraternity Council meetings was kicked out, and treated with disrespect. A photographer taking photos of

students out during St. Patricks Day last year was harassed by fraternity members and bullied into deleting his photos.

I want nothing but a good relationship between the voice of the students — CM Life— and Greek Life. But it takes two to tango, and people in Greek Life need to be willing to do this.

At no time this year, has CM Life received any sort of press release about a Greek event, or just someone reaching out in hopes we can do a story on something their chapter is doing. I think that’s because these organizations have closed themselves off from the rest of campus.

In today’s edition, the voices of the president of the Interfraternity Council and the president of the Panhellenic Council are absent. They both declined to be interviewed or offer comment for these stories.

Being editor-in-chief, I receive a lot of scrutiny, since part of my role is a spokesperson of our

organization. So when we, or someone within our publication screws up, I have to say something about that. Leaders of Greek Life: You should do the same.

I don’t want CM Life to only cover Greek Life when something bad happens. But the people involved have to be open and willing to cooperate. Coverage of your organizations can’t just happen on your terms.

I hope this edition detailing the allegations and incidents about PSP throughout the years, shed light to an issue we, and other fraternity and sorority leaders, knew was happening. I hope this gives people in the Greek community courage to use their voices – individually or unified – to stand up and help make our community better, and safer.

Use your voices in a powerful and positive way and make the changes you know are necessary.

Because when you do, that is a story I definitely want to report in CM Life.

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APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

How Central Michigan’s response to Greek misconduct differs from other universities

By Sara Kellner Staff Reporter news@cm-life.com

After incidents of binge drinking, hazing and even fatalities, universities across the nation have begun to crack down on Greek Life.

At Central Michigan University, individual fraternities have been punished after an incident occurs.

There are eight unrecognized fraternities and a sorority at CMU; four of those organizations were suspended in the last 24 months.

Phi Kappa Tau was suspended in February 2018 after an investigation by the Office of Student Conduct learned about a new member scavenger hunt that involved students drinking shots of alcohol in a Pearce Hall computer lab. Both the alcohol consumption and the scavenger hunt violated university policies.

In February 2018, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. suspended its CMU chapter while investigating a hazing allegation.

Pi Kappa Phi was suspended in November 2017 after an investigation found it violated the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures for giving false information during interviews, hazing allegations and “a violation by a CMU Registered Student Organization.” The investigation found that during a Big/ Little reveal, new members had to hold a brick and pencil out in front of them and answer questions about the fraternity. Though not required, many wore blindfolds.

The organization was previously placed on probation in Fall 2016 and violated university policies in Spring 2017 while on probation.

Phi Sigma Phi was suspended in August 2018 and permanently removed from campus in October.

The fraternity received complaints for more than a decade, with 14 incidents occurring between 2015 and 2018. Six complaints accused fraternity members of hazing, sexual misconduct and assault.

Tony Voisin, associate vice president of Student Affairs said the university began the process of “re-imagining Greek Life at CMU” in Summer 2017. This process includes raising the new member

GPA requirement, improving new member training, adding chapter training through the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity and Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates and annual chapter assessments.

“We are seeing movement in the right direction, but we also understand that change does not happen overnight,” Voisin said.

BINGE-DRINKING CULTURE At its Aug. 27 meeting, the North American Interfraternity Conference, which represents 66 national and international fraternities, voted unanimously to approve a hard liquor ban for all of its 6,100 chapters.

The hard liquor ban, effective Sept. 1, 2019, prohibits products above 15 percent alcohol by volume to be inside any chapter house or social event. Hard liquor is only allowed if served by a third-party vendor, according to an NIC press release.

“At their core, fraternities are about brotherhood, personal development and providing a community of support,” NIC President and CEO Judson Horras said in the release. “Alcohol abuse and its serious consequences endanger this very purpose.”

This ban affects seven of CMU’s 10 fraternities. Todd Shelton, chief communication officer, said the NIC is a trade association and membership is voluntary, so that is why some national fraternities are not a part of it. Regardless, Shelton said all fraternities have their own governing documents they are expected to follow.

The NIC’s hard liquor ban is part of a larger goal to eliminate the binge-drinking culture that exists in fraternities across the nation.

The student leaders of the Interfraternity Council at the University of Missouri chose to ban hard liquor in 2015. As a way to promote transparency, the rule called for auditors to monitor fraternity events and report any incidents directly to the university’s Office of Student Accountability and Support, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

That rule didn’t last though.

In 2017, the rule was changed to sending auditor’s reports to

PSP president unhappy with way fraternity is portrayed by Central Michigan Life, university Central Michigan Life requested comment from the president of Phi Sigma Phi. As this edition was going to press, he sent this statement to be published with today’s content.

Our main concern with our dismissal as a chapter was how it was handled on the university’s side. (CMU) portrayed all of our members out to be something that we are not and do not condone, with allegations that have no facts to support them.

If we learned that any of our members committed any of the allegations against our group we would hold them accountable and remove them from our organization.

CMU did not inform us about any allegations nor did they give us an opportunity to investigate.

The issue that our group feels the most strongly about is how CMU portrayed Kevin (Ajluni's) death.

Kevin was a great friend to everyone in the group and honestly the most genuine person I have ever met. The school used his tragic accident, that did not occur at a fraternity event, to wrongfully blame us while we were mourning our brother's death.

It was an extremely tragic accident and the university blamed us for our good friend's death.

It is a horrible feeling losing a friend at such a young age and it is a lot harder to deal with when you are blamed and punished for something that was nothing more than a tragic accident. We really consider this an insult to Kevin's memory and to his family.

We have not let this situation affect our ability to help others.

We recently had a Tropical Smoothie philanthropy event where we raised over $200 for the children at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

We also just had our annual golf outing where we also raised money for St. Jude’s. This group will continue to help out the community and have philanthropy events.

Members of the group also thought CM Life did not pay respect to Kevin's memory so I hope you guys can use this investigative article to share our side of the story and give Kevin the respect he deserves.

– Ryan Jurek, President, Phi Sigma Phi

the fraternity president, chapter adviser and council leaders. The report could be forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct if they felt a violation had occurred.

Purdue University had a similar hard liquor ban in 2010. Student leaders banned hard liquor after a student died at an off-campus party and there were more than 24 alcohol-related medical calls in one semester. However, the

student leaders are the ones who gather reports and decide what the punishment should be for a violation. The ban was renewed in 2015.

According to the Chronicle, one fraternity violated the alcohol ban, 10 have active sanctions relating to alcohol violations and sixteen others were penalized between 2016 and 2018.

While this is the first hard liquor policy approved by the NIC as a

whole, universities have implemented similar policies.

Grand Valley State University recently imposed sanctions on Greek Life after seven fraternities and two sororities were disciplined during a five-year period. On Oct. 31, 2018, administrators announced the sanctions at a Greek Life Town Hall, according to the Grand Valley Lanthorn, GVSU’s student-run newspaper.

The sanctions include: • No alcohol allowed at chapter events.

• GVSU will not accept any new fraternities or sororities.

• The relationship agreement between GVSU and each chapter will be put on hold “until conditions improve.”

• A task force will investigate issues regarding Greek Life.

“We can’t wait,” said Bob Stoll, GVSU associate dean for Student Life. “We have to do this now.

We’re too close to a situation where we might lose one of you in this room.”

FATALITIES INCREASING Although the sanctions at GVSU were preventative, most universities impose sanctions on Greek Life after an incident has occurred.

According to CNN, there have been 77 fraternity-related deaths since 2005.

Of those 77, the most high-profile ones are: September 2014: Clemson University student Tucker Hipps died of a head injury after falling off a bridge during an early-morning Sigma Phi Epsilon pledge run.

November 2014: West Virginia University freshman Nolan Burch was found unconscious and not breathing inside the Kappa Sigma fraternity house.

February 2017: Penn State University student Timothy Piazza died of a head injury after falling down the stairs in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house.

September 2017: Louisiana State University freshman Maxwell Gruver died after consuming a massive amount of alcohol during a Phi Delta Theta pledge event.

His blood alcohol level was .495 percent.

November 2017: Florida State University student Andrew Coffey

21

CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019 died of acute alcohol poisoning during a Pi Kappa Phi event. His blood alcohol level was .447 percent.

November 2017: Texas State University student Matthew Ellis was found unresponsive in an off-campus apartment. His blood alcohol level was .38 percent.

November 2018: Ohio University student Colin Waint died of asphyxiation due to nitrous oxide ingestion while pledging Sigma Pi. In April 2018, Central Michigan University and Murray State University – where Robert Davies served as president before coming to CMU – both experienced fraternity-related deaths.

At Murray State, Zach Wardrip, who was not a student, was visiting a friend in April 2018 and they went to a party at a fraternity house, according to the local NBC station WPSD. WPSD reported that after the party, Wardrip went to a different fraternity house where he fell asleep. Wardrip was found dead the next morning. The cause of death was ruled an accident by ethanol intoxication.

At 12:43 a.m. on April 29, 2018, the Mount Pleasant Police Department and medical authorities were

dispatched to a house on South Main Street. Kevin Ajluni, a Phi Sigma Phi member, was airlifted to Saginaw Covenant Hospital. Ajluni fell down a flight of stairs. He suffered from a skull fracture and a brain bleed, according to police.

His blood alcohol level was .242 percent.

Ajluni died May 3, 2018 from his injuries, just days before he was to walk in CMU’s commencement ceremonies.

SUSPENSIONS AND SANCTIONS At all of these universities – except CMU – administrators chose to suspend Greek Life activities for a period of time.

Typically at CMU, individual fraternities are punished for wrongdoing. Voisin said he doesn’t understand why a university would punish Greek Life as a whole because of the actions of a single organization.

“My philosophy is that those who have crossed the line – who have violated university policies, who have conducted themselves not in accordance with our procedures – we will take action (against),” Voisin said. “I’m not

going to penalize groups that are operating appropriately.”

At a meeting held about three years ago, Voisin and other administrators gathered fraternity members together in Plachta Auditorium to address behavior issues that had come to the university’s attention.

“We said ‘enough is enough,’” Voisin said. “Why are we getting notices from Mount Pleasant about your houses being pigsties? Why are your GPAs continuing to go south? I told them if we don’t see improvements, it doesn’t matter how much money you raise for your philanthropies. (That’s) not what bases my decision on whether a group should be here or not.”

University of Michigan’s Interfraternity Council – which is comprised of students – chose to suspend Greek social events and new member pledges in Fall 2017. The council was investigating more than 80 sexual assault complaints reported between July 2015 and June 2016, according to The Michigan Daily. In a written statement, Alec Mayhan, the IFC executive vice president at the time said, “We believe that social

Your friends will be green with Envy!

events are a privilege, and we, as a community, have not earned this privilege at this time.”

Most universities lifted suspensions after a few months and release new sets of rules and policies for Greek organizations to follow.

Rules ranged from risk management training at Texas State University, heightened security at parties at Clemson University and West Virginia University, alcohol bans at Florida State University or a combination of these sanctions.

On May 9, 2018, Murray State suspended all Greek social activities. It lifted the suspension on Aug. 24, 2018 and introduced new rules for Greek organizations including a 22-page social event policy. WPSD published the full list of rules. Some of the new rules include: • Chapter officers and 90 percent of chapter members are required to complete training for drinking, conflict resolution and bystander intervention • All social events must be scheduled on an official Greek social event calendar. No more than three Greek social events are allowed in a weekend, and no more

than two per night.

• Social events are limited to mostly Greek members. No more than 15 non-members are allowed at an event and all attendees must be Murray State students.

• Attendees must present a Greek ID and another photo ID to get into an event. Check-in and check-out software must be used at events.

As for the future of Greek life at CMU, Damon Brown, director of Student Activities and Involvement, thinks it will continue to grow.

Greek organizations at CMU work hard to raise money for their respective philanthropies, and often work together. During Greek Week 2019, organizations at CMU raised $90,000 for the Isabella County Restoration House and Parents United to Stop Hazing (PUSH). Last year, they raised $100,000 for the Women’s Aid Shelter and Special Days Camps.

“If you’re a student, and you want to be in an organization that’s going to challenge you to be a better version of yourself,” Brown said, “(Greek life) is one of those opportunities to do that.”

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We Save SOLES!

RACER REARS ROOMY SALTY SHALL SINGEING SLIDE STATE SURPLUSES THERMODYNAMICS THRESHOLD TRAIN TREND TRILL TRUCES UNDERSTANDABLY VERGE WAIST WARTS WINDS WISPY

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Main St. Walk to class/convenient to downtown www.qualityapts.com (989)772-3894 _______________________________ NEW! LOFT TOWNHOMES 4 bed 4.5 bath, walk to campus, Luxury at an affordable price!

Call Olivieri 989-773-2333 _______________________________

NEWLY REMODELED 2BR DUPLEX New kitchen cabinets, windows, doors, newly tiled bath and all new tiled flooring throught. One car attached garage. Walking distance to CMU & Mt. Pleasant HS. No pets or smoking. $950/pm. Call (989)7725791 or (989)400-3003 _______________________________

Word Search Puzzle #D893IX

NEWLY RENOVATED Townhouse on the edge of campus for 4, 5, or 6 people!

2 baths, dishwasher, large living room, internet & trash included! 773-3890 _______________________________ ONE PERSON BASEMENT APARTMENT Adjacent to campus $450/month Includes utilities, WIFI & Cable 989-330-1491 _______________________________

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An AMISH LOG HEADBOARD AND Queen Pillow Top Mattress Set. Brand new-never used, sell all for $275. Call anytime 989-923-1278. _______________________________

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Two 2-bedroom units available on attractively landscaped property: 42004206 E. Wing Rd. Mount Pleasant, MI. Appliances (washer, dryer, range, refrigerator, and dishwasher) are included. One unit has attached Garage. Utilities and horseboarding not included. Interested? E-mail extra. ideas@hotmail.com or call Mrs. Ann (313)-623-1468 _______________________________

HELP WANTED BLOOMFIELD HILLS company has summer jobs available! Up to $15/hr.

Call or text (248)332-4700 or work@bloomfieldrentals.com _______________________________

Work on Mackinac Island This Summer – Make lifelong friends.

The Island House Hotel and Ryba’s Fudge Shops are seeking help in all areas: Front Desk, Bell Staff, Wait Staff, Sales Clerks, Kitchen, Baristas. Dorm Housing, bonus, and discounted meals. (906) 847-7196. www.theislandhouse.com _______________________________

Live Estate Auction Saturday, April 27, 2019 - 10:30 AM. 444 Schoolhouse St. Ortonville, MI. Antique furniture, glassware, household, tools. Photos and complete list of items at www. millingtonbid.com 989-912-4313 _______________________________

AUTOS WANTED CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 and Newer.

Competitive Offer! Nationwide FREE Pick Up! Call Now For a Free Quote!

888-366-5659 _______________________________

BUILDINGS BUILT BEST BARNS Michigan’s Largest Pole Barn Company Best Quality, Best Service, ORDER NOW for Spring Delivery at Winter Prices License/Insured 1-877-802-9591 (Office) 989-205-2534 (Cell) _______________________________

DISCOUNT METAL ROOFING, half off on special colors. Seasonal special on custom built pole barns. Licensed and insured builders. Quality work for 40 years! 517-575-3695. _______________________________ PIONEER POLE BUILDINGS Free Estimates Licensed and Insured.

2x6 Trusses. 45 Year Warranty Galvalume Steel-19 Colors. Since 1976 #1 in Michigan Call Today 1-800-292-0679 _______________________________

BUILT RITE POLE BUILDINGS State-wide, 24x40x10=$11,865.00, 30x40x10=$14,000.00. Erected on your site. Call for price not shown on any size building or go to www. builtritepolebuildings.net Toll Free 1-877-296-6802. _______________________________

FISHING Vacation Cabins for Rent in Canada.

Fish for abundant walleye, perch, northern pike. Boats, motors, gasoline included. For free brochure call Hugh 1-800-426-2550 www.

CanadianFishing.com _______________________________

HEALTH Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub.

Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-271-8452 _______________________________

23

CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM | APRIL 22, 2019

CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE

CLASSIFIEDS

CROSSWORD

C M - L I F E . CO M /C LA SS I F I E D S

436 MOORE HALL, CMU, MOUNT PLEASANT, MI 48859 P: 989-774-LIFE F: 989-774-7805

1-2 ISSUES: $8.50 PER ISSUE 3-4 ISSUES: $8.00 PER ISSUE 5-8 ISSUES: $7.75 PER ISSUE 9+ ISSUES: $7.50 PER ISSUE

15 WORD MINIMUM PER CLASSIFIED AD BOLD, ITALIC AND CENTERED TYPE ARE AVAILABLE ALONG WITH OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES LIKE AD ATTRACTORS.

MATTRESSES

SERVICES

TV & INTERNET

Adjustable Bed Brand New with Imcomfort gel memory foam mattress. Retail Cost $3,995.00, sacrifice for $575.00. Call for showing or delivery: 989-615-2951. _______________________________

GET TAX HELP NOW! ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call Now! 855-980-4592 _______________________________

DIRECTV & AT&T. 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand (w/SELECT Package.) AT&T Internet 99 Percent Reliability. Unlimited Texts to 120 Countries w/AT&T Wireless.

Call 4 FREE Quote- 1-888-351-0154 _______________________________

MEDICAL VIAGRA & CIALIS Alternative, 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150 FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed!

Save Now! Call Today 1-800-610-4820 _______________________________

OXYGEN - Anytime. Anywhere. No tanks to refill. No deliveries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! FREE info kit: 855-970-1066 _______________________________ VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 100 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed.

24/7 CALL NOW! 888-835-7273 Hablamos Espanol _______________________________

Attention: Oxygen Users! Gain freedom with a Portable Oxygen Concentrator! No more heavy tanks and refills! Guaranteed Lowest Prices! Call the Oxygen Concentrator Store: 855-970-1066 _______________________________

SERVICES Meet singles right now! No paid operators, just real people like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and connect live. Try it free.

Call now: 855-247-5909 _______________________________

A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted local advisors help solutions to your unique needs at NO COST TO YOU! Call 866-760-7235. _______________________________

DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. 844-393-7068 or http:// www.dental50plus.com/55 Ad# 6118 _______________________________

TV & INTERNET DIRECTV NOW. No Satellite Needed. $40/month. 65 Channels.

Stream Breaking News, Live Events, Sports & On Demand Titles. No Annual Contract. No Commitment.

CALL 1-833-716-0515 _______________________________ Spectrum Triple Play! TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. More Channels. Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. Call 1-866729-0394 _______________________________

PEOPLE RESPOND TO COLOR! You can maximize your advertising power by up to 85% by placing color in your ad. So, add a big splash of vibrant color and see what an enormous change it can make! _______________________________ DISH Network $69.99 For 190 Channels. Add High Speed Internet for ONLY $14.95/month. Best Technology. Best Value.Smart HD DVR Included. FREE Installation.

Some restrictions apply. Call 1-866950-6757 _______________________________

Earthlink High Speed Internet. As Low As $14.95/month (for the first 3 months.) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology. Stream Videos, Music and More! Call Earthlink Today 1-844-275-3510 _______________________________

FOR SALE Pond/Lake Weed Removal Tools (The #1 alternative to chemicals.)

Performs C.P.R. Cuts-Pulls-Rakes.

Pinconning, MI 989-529-3992. www. weedgatorproducts.com Enter promo code: GATORMICH10 for discount. _______________________________

MISCELLANEOUS DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup.

Call for details. 855-413-9672 _______________________________

Darkess cannot drive out darkness.

Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.

– Martin Luther King, Jr. ____________________________ Reach Across Michigan with a MegaMarket Statewide Classified Ad! Over 1.2 million weekly circulation just $249 per week! Buy 3 - Get 1 Free! Call 800.783.0267 _______________________________

SUDOKU To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 - 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column or box. The more numbers you can figure out the easier it gets to solve!

Across

1. Sent via PC 8. Burr who shot Hamilton 13. Dispatch 14. Actress Dietrich 16. Discovery Channel game show 17. Visual 18. Paints 19. Learned things 20. Dame ____ Everage 21. Suffix with fish or quack 22. Miso veggie 23. Inhibit 25. Dolphinfish, when doubled 27. Tours turndown 28. Famous theory 31. Truck wts.

32. Simon and Garfunkel character 33. Mouths, in zoology 36. Major Geoffrey Vickers in “The Charge of the Light Brigade” 40. Japanese tech. giant 41. Olympus ____ (Martian volcano)

42. Very wide shoe size 44. Key to get out?

45. Image file type 46. Homer-hitter Sammy 47. Pop/rock singer Gwen 49. Applies oils to 52. Newsworthy 53. Walter of politics 54. Cultural festival showing 55. Rabble-rousing troublemaker 56. Turn back to zero 57. Underprivileged ones

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Controlled the mike Mosey Actor Armand of “The Mambo Kings” Fictional whaler Delicate trim Like a half-dozen and 6, on the Seine Socialist Eugene Like some French flicks Baba and MacGraw

10. Narrate 11. Interminably 12. Holds on a mat 14. Relatively minor problems, proverbially 15. Liquid appetizer 24. Ethnic group 25. Archivist’s material 26. Word on a French postcard 29. Airport building 30. Eli’s school 33. Like a cheap hotel, maybe 34. Refurbish 35. Agrees to 37. Confessor’s words 38. Newborn 39. A puppy, at times 43. Certain loom bars 45. Without being said 48. Drum’s partner 49. Ugandan despot 50. Sixpence ____ the Richer 51. “____ upon a time ...”

SOURCE: www.printable-puzzles.com

24

APRIL 22, 2019 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE | CM-LIFE.COM

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