More Fallout From The Death And Arrests At College Station Fraternity House

The College Station fraternity house where a member died and four others were arrested following a party last weekend has been suspended by the fraternity’s national office. Brad Beacham, executive director of Sigma Nu Fraternity Inc., sent WTAW News a statement that the suspension of the Kappa Sigma chapter and the four members “is based on all information available to the General Fraternity at this time.”

The local chapter was also in the process of trying to return as an officially recognized student organization at Texas A&M. A&M senior vice president Amy Smith says the local chapter has not been recognized by the university since the fraternity has not had an advisor for the last several months. Smith says she imagines what happened last weekend “will set the organization back further from gaining any formal recognition by the university in the near term.”

And the fraternity has also has a history of visits by College Station’s code enforcement office. Last month marked the 39th case since 2004. Of those, there have been 12 investigations and 14 health and safety violations. The most recent incident, involving open storage, has been closed.

College Station police continue to ask for public assistance related to the death of Anton Gridnev of Frisco and the subsequent arrests on drug charges. Lt. Steve Brock says an autopsy has been completed, but the results of laboratory tests won’t be known for some time.

Statement from Brad Beacham, Executive Director Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc.:

Sigma Nu Fraternity has suspended all activities of the Kappa Sigma Chapter, located at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, pending completion of investigations related to the August 20 death of student member Anton Gridnev. The suspension is based on all information available to the General Fraternity at this time.

“Anton’s family and friends remain in our thoughts and prayers as we continue to grieve his death,” said Brad Beacham, Executive Director of Sigma Nu Fraternity. “We are deeply troubled by information released by the College Station police department and remain prepared to assist, however possible, with the investigation by local authorities. At the appropriate time, the Fraternity and University will complete their own investigations.”

The Fraternity’s action to suspend the chapter’s activities, taken Wednesday, is in addition to the Fraternity’s earlier action to suspend the Fraternity membership of four students arrested and charged by College Station police. Sigma Nu Fraternity prohibits the illegal possession and use of drugs and other substances by its members.

Statement from Amy B. Smith, Texas A&M Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

The local Kappa Sigma Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity holds active membership in its national organization. In that the fraternity has not had an advisor for the past several months, it was not, prior to this incident, nor is it now an official “university recognized student organization.”

The group recently started the re-application process to become one of the more than 1,000 officially recognized student organizations at Texas A&M. The recognition process is ongoing—thus the approval of the Sigma Nu application has not been granted.

Recognized student organizations have access to campus resources and are required to adhere to strict university policies, rules and procedures. The Sigma Nu fraternity house is located off campus and not a property of Texas A&M University.

I imagine this will set the organization back further from gaining any formal recognition by the university in the near term. At the same time, we know that Sigma Nu’s national headquarters has been actively involved in their response and onsite support since this happened.

Regarding communications with other organizations, that is part of our protocol and will indeed continue to be the case. And, by the way, those communications are not unique to “Greek” organizations but to others, including clubs and athletics. We’re one university and the health and wellbeing of all is paramount to this great learning environment.

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