metro
Criminal Charges
U-M frat president, 2 members on the spot in resort vandalism case.
Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer
T
wo members of the Jewish fra-
ternity Sigma Alpha Mu (SAM)
waived their arraignments in
response to misdemeanor charges for their
actions during a January ski trip where
extensive damage was caused to a Northern
Michigan resort.
Joshua Kaplan, president of the now-
defunct University of Michigan SAM
chapter, and member Zachary Levin were
charged with "furnishing a place" for con-
sumption of alcohol or illegal substances
by minors, according to Otsego County
Prosecutor Michael Rola. Pretrial confer-
ences are scheduled for Kaplan and Levin,
both 19, later this month in Otsego County
87th District Court.
A third SAM member, whose name is
not being released, is facing a felony charge
of malicious destruction of a building over
$1,000 but less than $20,000. His arraign-
ment will take place this month in Otsego
County 87th District Court. His Detroit
attorney, Mark Kriger, declined comment,
as is his policy on pending cases.
Ann Arbor attorney John Minock, who
is representing Kaplan and Levin, said
his clients' names were on the agreement
between the fraternity and Treetops Resort
in Gaylord, but refused to comment further.
Members of the historically Jewish Sigma
Delta Tau (SDT) sorority also participated
in the Jan. 16-18 weekend trip, although
none of its members have been implicated
in the damages.
Furniture was smashed, cupboard doors
were torn from their hinges, drywall was
damaged and carpeting was ruined in 45
rooms of the resort during the ski weekend
attended by about 270 U-M students. In
addition, hallway ceiling tiles were removed
and destroyed, leaving corridors heaped
with debris.
While the original estimate for repair-
ing the damage was about $125,000, the
amount has since climbed to $430,000,
according to Treetops management, who
attribute $200,000 of that amount to loss of
income and reputation. Resort management
and those representing the Greek organiza-
tions have been engaged in discussions
about the recently added amount.
According to Rola, no additional charges
have been filed against other students pres-
ent at Treetops, although Rola said he antic-
ipates further charges may be issued after
Michigan State Police have completed their
investigation, which is still ongoing. He said
the number of students involved and the
orchard lake road I south of maple I west bloomfield
HE BOARDWALK
% off Event!
• Closet NV
• Hersh's
• Just Girls
• Marguerite
• Rear Ends
• Ruby's Balm
• Salon Nadwa
• On The Fly
• Steven Franklin Optics
• Sundance Shoes
lack of security cameras in the resort rooms
have made it more difficult to determine
which individuals were responsible for the
damage.
The Ann Arbor SAM chapter was offi-
cially disbanded last month by the orga-
nization's international board of directors,
who said the members' lack of cooperation
after the incident was a major factor in the
decision. The former SAM members have
until May 3, the last day of the U-M semes-
ter, to vacate the house.
A February hearing before the university
Greek Activity Review Panel (GARP) result-
ed in several sanctions issued to SAM and
SDT members by GARP as well as by the
university. These included full restitution to
Treetops, drug and alcohol awareness pro-
grams, community service and bystander
intervention education.
In addition, SDT was placed on a two-
year disciplinary suspension by the univer-
sity, a decision that sorority officials have
deemed too harsh.
"... It is Sigma Delta Tau's opinion
that our women did not play a part in
the destruction and vandalism on site.
Additionally, we feel that the women
attempted to intervene as they saw fit ...,"
SDT National President Michelle Carlson
said in a written statement.
In other Treetops-related litigation, a
lawsuit was filed March 19 in Washtenaw
County by the national SAM organization
over control of the fraternity bank accounts
managed by the Ann Arbor chapter. Before
the scheduled court date, local SAM officers
signed a consent judgment agreeing to turn
over the bank accounts for the Ann Arbor
chapter. ❑
Bernstein At Law School
On March 20, the Auburn Hills cam-
pus of Western Michigan University
Thomas M. Cooley Law School hosted
Michigan Supreme Court Justice
Richard Bernstein. The luncheon
event was sponsored by the Jewish
Law Students Association (JLSA).
Bernstein spoke on "Turning Obstacles
Into Pathways." In the photo are Lisa
Halushka, assistant dean and professor;
Ben Lesnick, immediate past president,
JLSA; Justice Richard Bernstein; and
Robert Unatin, JLSA president.
NOW EAtu April 15, 2015
Expires April 15 th With this ad only!
Previous purchases & sale items excluded. Some restrictions apply. One redemption per person unless otherwise noted.
1989030
14 April 9 • 2015
Damage done at Treetops Resort in Gaylord during the Jan. 16-18 weekend