TUCSON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity was placed on interim suspension by the University of Arizona after members of the Greek group were accused of assaulting members of a Jewish fraternity at the school.
Fifteen members of SAE are facing possible expulsion after they allegedly "forced entry into the off-campus residence of UA students, yelling discriminatory comments at the UA students and physically assaulting them," a letter from the school's dean of students said.
The alleged victims of the attack were from the school's Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi.
President of AEP Gideon Rafal told KVOA-TV, Tucson, Ariz., he was one of the injured students.
Related
"I had a skull fracture, lower back fracture, bleeding in the brain and a concussion," he said.
Rafal said the incident was sparked when he asked someone he didn't know to leave the AEP house.
"At that point he starts backing off with his hand raised saluting Hitler and he runs into a house right next to our house and comes out with 20 guys," he said.
The school and SAE headquarters are both investigating the incident.
"Chapter leadership has suspended four brothers for conduct that is inconsistent with our values and expectations for members, and we support their decision," said Brandon E. Weghorst, associate executive director of communications for SAE headquarters, said in a statement.
"We teach our members to serve as role models in their communities and to live up to our creed, "The True Gentleman." If members fail to do so, we will not hesitate to take corrective actions or to impose sanctions, as necessary. Any behavior that is not aligned with the conduct we expect is unacceptable, and we regret any behaviors that have deviated from what we stand for because they are inexcusable, even when they are isolated, individual actions."
