Delta Sigma Phi’s tailgating privileges have been suspended due to an ongoing investigation of the fraternity supplying alcohol to minors at the Sept. 22 football game vs. Clemson, according to Delta Sigma Phi’s president William Peete.
Director of the Office of Student Conduct Paul Cousins said Delta Sigma Phi brothers received a campus appearance ticket while tailgating.
Cousins said he did not think it would be appropriate for him to comment on the incident so as not to compromise of the accuracy of information when the case is reviewed.
Peete said about an hour after the game started, he received a call that several officers had entered the area where the brothers had been tailgating earlier.
When Peete arrived on the scene, he said officers were giving breathalyzers to several females, who later received underage drinking tickets. No brothers were around the area, with the exception of one who was cleaning the grill, he said.
“The officers came over and got my information and said Delta Sig is at blame for supplying the alcohol to underage females, which is very incorrect,” Peete said. “We didn’t supply alcohol to anyone — it is against our policies. I received tickets for aiding and abetting, and the officers told me to clean up the area.”
According to Sgt. Kelly Rosser of Campus Police, officers were doing their job and walking around observing the lot when they noticed a large group of people under the fraternity’s tent that appeared underage.
The officers saw hard liquor, which attracted their attention because the consumption of liquor is not allowed on public property due to state laws, Rosser said.
Peete said liquor bottles were around the area at the time he arrived.
“I have no idea where they came from, but I certainly know they didn’t come from Delta Sigma Phi,” he said.
He also said he was unaware of who the underage females were.
Peete said he didn’t know them personally and heard several of the girls weren’t even N.C. State students.
According to Peete, he and the brothers of Delta Sigma Phi have a very high level of respect for Campus Police and haven’t lost respect for them but are disappointed with the way it handled the situation.
“We are disappointed because we believe we have been treated unfairly. A lot of assumptions were made that it was the result of our organization,” he said. “We are doing a lot of investigation and talking to a few witnesses we know were there so we can figure out exactly what went on.”
Along with trying to compromise with Student Conduct, Delta Sigma Phi is also making sure no brothers are going to be at the tailgating area until the penalty is fulfilled, Peete said.
“We are working to make sure our risk management plan is very strict, so something like this will never happen again,” he said. “We are looking for the clearest testimonies to best assist Student Conduct in realizing that there are some inconsistencies in this punishment.”
Student Body Chief Justice Lock Whiteside declined to comment on the situation.