SAE allegations already reported and still incorrect

Dear Daily Lobo,

Thank you for your participation in the UNM Lobo, which teaches journalism to a new generation. I’d like to give you a little feedback on last Friday’s article, “SAE: 15 years of sexual assault allegations.”

I commend you for your use of the word “allegations” in the title of the article. However, the supporting details of the article lead to a conclusion that is never stated — that no member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at UNM has ever been convicted of sexual misconduct. Even so, the chapter’s charter was revoked for four years for an alcohol violation involving underage students. So why is the article about sexual allegations that have since resulted in instances of no charges being filed, charges being dismissed and acquittals? 

Perhaps instead you should report on the problem of underage drinking on campus by SAE, other UNM organizations or individual UNM students; misconduct that I don’t condone. Why not report on the uneven enforcement of alcohol rules by UNM against fraternities as compared to the violations at Lobo Village, the dorms, the football team, other chartered UNM organizations and the student population in general? Would UNM suspend the basketball team for four years for a similar violation by a member? Would UNM close Lobo Village for a mere 500 allegations?

The statement, “The fraternity had until June 5 to appeal the decision, but it didn’t,” is false. The fraternity did appeal to Vice President Torres and was denied. The statement, “Meyers, the former president of SAE who was a member starting his freshman year, left his fraternity and become a fraternity alumnus in January 2013 before the incident happened,” is wrong on several counts. To what “incident” do you refer that happened after January 2013? Further, Meyers is not an alumnus as he has neither graduated nor formally applied for that status. Technically, his membership in SAE remains suspended.

Michael McGuffin was not a pledge in August of 2007. He had attempted and failed pledge requirements twice. This can be verified through Deran C. Abernathy, Associate Executive Director of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity dabernathy@SAE.net. The original UNM police report incorrectly lists him as a member of SAE, a falsehood reported repeatedly by the Albuquerque Journal and television stations, syndicated news agencies, national publications such as USA Today and Rolling Stone magazine and, again, by you and the Daily Lobo.

The 1998 issue that allegedly occurred in the SAE house parking lot (according to an Associated Press report) did not happen there. It occurred in a parking lot across the street from SAE, next to a sorority house, in a lot owned by Golden Pride Chicken. However, those facts do not contribute to the sensationalism used to support the aura of a chapter out of control and are therefore misreported. Worse, it is an example of a news organization re-reporting “news” obtained from another news agency.

It is a shame that the Lobo participates in the cycle of reporting on reports of reports of reports that are wrong. With respect to the 2007 incident, the Albuquerque Journal has reported on it more than a dozen times referring to the person involved as a member of SAE and never mentioning that all charges of sexual misconduct were dismissed. 

The headline “SAE cleared of charges” doesn’t sell newspapers. However, repeating allegations again and again — over 15 years — apparently does.

Peter Mantos
Proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and UNM Alumnus