8 - The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2004
CRIME
Student set to CRIME
stand trial for Car vandalized by
eggs, exterior
mB in assault destroyed
JOEL FRIEDMAN/Daily
Following allegations that Sigma Chi fraternity members hazed pledges, the Interfraternity Council voted
on Monday to withdraw its recognition of the fraternity.
IFC expels Sigma Chi
for azin allegations
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April 12, 2004
By Mona Rafeeq
Daily Staff Reporter
A preliminary hearing for a student facing charges
for assault with a dangerous weapon is scheduled for
Wednesday.
According to Department of Public Safety reports,
Engineering freshman John Conover allegedly shot a
BB gun pellet out of a West Quad Residence Hall win-
dow at a passing driver on Sunday, March 28.
The driver was not injured, but DPS charged Conover
with assault with a dangerous weapon and a minor in
possession of alcohol violation. He was also charged
with assault and battery.
DPS Lt. Chris Spork noted that Conover's weapons
violations could be twofold.
"First, he violated his lease by keeping a dangerous
weapon in his room, and second, he violated the
weapons ordinance for the University," he said.
Conover's attorney, John Shea, said that even if the
assault with a dangerous weapon charge is dismissed,
Conover could still be charged with assault and battery.
This is a misdemeanor that can carry up to four years
in prison.
"It is unlikely that the penalty would be that severe if
my client was found guilty because he has not faced
other charges before," Shea said. He said his client has
continued attending classes.
"Any disciplinary action taken by the University
would be between him and the University," Shea added.
DPS Lt. Crystal James said Conover was arraigned
March 29 and pled not guilty. An arraignment, the ini-
tial step in a criminal case, is a first appearance in
court for an alleged offender.
Shea said the preliminary hearing on Wednesday is
likely to be adjourned because he has not received any
reports from DPS.
September 24, 2003
By MariaSprow
Daily Staff Reporter
The Interfraternity Council late Monday night
unanimously voted to withdraw its recognition
of the Sigma Chi fraternity following the alleged
hazing of a pledge who was hospitalized for kid-
ney failure. The move cuts Sigma Chi's ties to
the University.
University officials said they spoke with fam-
ily members, who charged that the hazing
involved a physically exhausting and demanding
amount of exercise. Details on how many frater-
nity brothers were involved, whether any other
hazing incidents occurred and exactly how the
pledges were forced into participating are still
unknown, the officials said.
Greek Life Assistant Director John Duncan said
the student and seven other members of his pledge
class were "not given much food or water and they
had to do an extensive amount of exercise for an
extended period of time."
Sometime after the initiation, the student, a Kine-
siology junior and Ann Arbor resident, reported the
incident to his family, who drove him to a nearby
hospital. He was admitted Sept. 14 with muscle
breakdown, which led to acute renal failure.
"We are under the impression that (acute renal
failure) can be a result of (dehydration and food
deprivation), and that is what we are operating
under right now," Duncan said.
The student's mother contacted the Office of
Greek Life on Sept. 17 to inform it of the hazing
incident. The student was released from the hos-
pital Sept. 19. University officials said he is still
recovering.
Sigma Chi President David McMurtrie, as well
as several other members of the fraternity, declined
yesterday to comment about the allegations or the
revocation of their charter yesterday.
Calls were not returned from the national Sigma
Chi headquarters in Illinois, but University officials
said the national chapter has revoked the local
chapter's charter for an "indefinite period of time."
Also as a result of the allegations, IFC President
Branden Muhl said Sigma Chi will no longer be
recognized by or receive benefits from the rest of
the Greek community until the national fraternity
petitions to return to its former status.
A caller informed police on Satur-
day night that his vehicle had been
maliciously damaged sometime
between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. that morn-
ing. DPS reports state that eggs strik-
ing the vehicle caused damage to the
vehicle's paint job. (Sept. 8, 2003)
Masturbating man
sent to jail
A caller reported a male subject lay-
ing down and masturbating in the car-
port on Thayer Street on Friday
afternoon. DPS records state the man
was arrested and transported to the
Washtenaw County Jail. (Sept. 22,
2003)
Woman assaulted
with art tool
A female caller at the Art and Archi-
tecture Building reported that a male
student attacked her around 11 p.m.
Thursday night. The male subject
apparently wielded a tool used for art-
work. He managed to inflict minor
injuries to the female student who
placed the call. She declined medical
attention. DPS has identified a suspect.
The case is still under investigation.
(Oct. 6, 2003)
Flaming mops set
off fire alarm
A caller reported that two mop heads
caught fire while drying in a commer-
cial dryer in the Michigan League
laundry room, according to DPS
reports. The mop heads, valued at $5
each, were damaged, but the dryer sus-
tained no serious damage. Heavy
smoke filled the basement and drifted
to the first floor. The blaze triggered
the fire alarm at 4 p.m. Friday. The
Occupational Safety and Environmen-
tal Health team and Ann Arbor Fire
Department responded and gave the
all-clear to allow people back into the,
building. No injuries were reported.
(Nov. 10, 2003)
Car ignites en
route to hospital
DPS reported that a hospital visitor
noticed the inside of her car heating up
and dashboard lights flashing. She then
pulled into loading dock five where her
car ignited. The 1996 vehicle was dam-
aged in the incident, but no one was
injured. (March 1, 2004)
Drunken student
attempts to steal
street sign
DPS officers stopped a student who
was walking away with a street sign on
East Ann Street Feb. 19. After being
stopped, the student was issued a cita-
tion for a minor in possession of alco-
hol. (March 1, 2004)
- Compiled from Daily staff reports
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