Dean of Students Laura Blake Jones called out the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity at the University of Michi- gan in a message to MLive published Dec. 17. Blake Jones said “several gen- erations” took part in haz- ing activities at the Theta chapter and the fraterni- ty’s national headquarters turned a “blind eye” to haz- ing. On. Nov. 7, the University terminated the fraternity for hazing infractions with opportunity for recoloni- zation after five calendar years. The IFC released a statement saying the Coun- cil supported the Univer- sity’s decision following the Student Organization Advancement and Recogni- tion review conducted by the Greek Activities Review Panel. Alpha Sigma Phi disasso- ciated from the University and Interfraternity Coun- cil in September, opting instead to join the newly formed Ann Arbor Inter- fraternity Council. The fraternity cited new zon- ing codes implemented by City Council as the reason for the change. According to the Office of Greek Life, fraternities must answer to the University regardless of governance. “These sanctions result from a Hazing Response Team investigation that found substantial evi- dence of dangerous recur- ring practices within Alpha Sigma Phi’s new member process, including forced alcohol consumption and violent physical hazing,” the IFC wrote in the statement. Nicole Banks, interim director of Greek Life and assistant dean of students, did not respond to The Dai- ly’s request for comment. Kim Broekhuizen, associate director of the University’s Office of Public Affairs, said in an email that disaf- filiation does not mean the chapter will not be held accountable. “The general practice of a minimum suspension for five years allows time for the current students to matriculate from U-M and for the headquarters to put greater support in place for the chapter to operate effec- tively following a closure for cause, to ensure that the same challenges do not recur,” Broekhuizen wrote. “The University investigat- ed complaints against Alpha Sigma Phi that occurred while the chapter was an active member of the Inter- fraternity Council. Alpha Sigma Phi’s intention to disaffiliate voluntarily did not absolve the chapter of accountability for its behav- ior.” The suspension from the IFC came before an MLive article published Dec. 5 disclosing the results of a Freedom of Information Act request regarding the fra- ternity’s closure. Text mes- sages and emails between members of Alpha Sigma Phi described a “40-yard dash,” during which mem- bers would allegedly run on pledges’ backs during the chapter’s “Hell Week.” The fraternity brothers described the event taking place and a student being injured. “We had people run our backs during our hell week,” an Alpha Sigma Phi member wrote in a group message obtained through the FOIA request. “That doesn’t mean it’s a tradition or a (good) idea, but it means (it’s) become normalized by us.” The University of Michigan has agreed to a $300,000 settlement after former employee, Amy J. Wang, claimed she was wrongfully terminated by the school. Through an attorney, the University signed the settlement on Dec. 3, which was later released to MLive after a public records request. According to the lawsuit, associate vice president of finance Nancy Hobbs, who was Wang’s boss, had asked Wang to “fraudulently misrepresent” the role of another employee to federal immigration officials. Wang’s complaint arose because the employee, who was working at the University through a North American Free Trade Agreement program allowing temporary work visas, was in a permanent managerial role despite restrictions in the program’s regulations prohibiting such a position. Wang claimed when she refused to lie about the employee’s status she was michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Thursday, January 10, 2019 ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. INDEX Vol. CXXVIII, No. 50 ©2018 The Michigan Daily NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A SPORTS......................6A SUDOKU..................... 2A CL ASSIFIEDS............... 5A A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 B - 6 B michigandaily.com For more stories and coverage, visit ACADEMICS ALEX HARRING Daily Staff Reporter ACADEMICS ZAYNA SYED Daily Staff Reporter DESIGN BY MICHELLE FAN Dean: ‘generations’ of Alpha Sigma Phi brothers took part in hazing activities National headquarters disputes characterizations of the chapter while IFC and University stand by the disciplinary sanctions imposed in the fall University settle suit for $300k ADMINISTRATION U-M denies liability for wrongful termination of a former employee AMARA SHAIKH Daily News Editor See ME/NA, Page 3A Follow The Daily on Instagram: @michigandaily See LAWSUIT, Page 3A See HAZING, Page 3A ME/NA boxes now included in Rackham 2019 apps Inside: The Best of 2018 B-Side University Towers, a student apartment building on South Forest Avenue, was received a noncompliance notice from the city early this week threatening fines of more than $200 should they continue to fail to comply with municipal regulations. The notice informed University Towers it had failed “to correct violations within the time limits specified” in addition to a “failure to obtain a current certificate or compliance with the city of Ann Arbor.” The warning invokes the City of Ann Arbor Housing Code, which reads, “No person shall lease or otherwise make a dwelling or rooming unit available for occupancy if a certificate of compliance is not in effect for the unit.” Ann Arbor’s Rental Housing Services office conducts inspections of residential units every 30 months and issues certificates of compliance for each property that passes the evaluation. The notice posted on the doors to University Towers declared “all tenants have the right to put their rent money in escrow for all unregistered rental units and/or those posted as non-compliant” and listed Jan. 10 as the follow-up date for the violation. Failure to comply by that date could result in ticketing of University Towers. When reached by phone, a receptionist from University Towers who did not identify herself said she had no comment on the matter at the time, but a manager may be able to comment at a later date. At the time of publication, The Daily was unable to reach a manager U Towers violates City housing code Ceremony ushers in new class of Washtenaw Commissioners See TOWERS, Page 3A RUCHITA IYER/Daily The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners celebrated swearing in District 2 Commissioner Sue Think at the Washtenaw County Administration Building Wednesday evening. Student apartment building issued warning for disobeying regulations OLIVIA TAUBER Daily Staff Reporter Democrats control every seat on the Board after sweeping November elections Elected officials and local residents celebrated the swear- ing in of the new class of county commissioners at the Washt- enaw County Administration Building on Tuesday night. Four incumbents and four new members, all Democrats, of- ficially assumed their roles on the Board of Commissioners, the first time the body has been entirely Democratic in its his- tory. The county has the most Democratic representatives in the state of Michigan. Lawrence Kestenbaum, the county clerk and register of deeds for Washtenaw County, led the swearing-in ceremony. In a nod to the “blue wave” that swept the Board, Kestenbaum discussed the importance of considering the entire scope of beliefs within the county, which he said was the “most wonder- ful constituency anyone can have.” “The people around this ta- ble do not represent the whole political scope of this county,” Kestenbaum said. “Reach out to those who you do not agree TAL LIPKIN Daily Staff Reporter See COMMISSIONERS, Page 2A ANN ARBOR #WeExist campaign calls for representation Rackham Graduate School announced last month they will include Middle Eastern and North African identity options on their applications for Fall 2019. The identity will fall under the white racial cat- egory, with Middle Eastern and North African identi- ties as further specifica- tion, along with options for applicants to identify as European or other. The move follows requests from Arab students, staff and faculty for the University to officially recognize their identities in a campaign titled #WeExist. The #WeExist campaign began two years ago when current and former stu- dents Silan Fadlallah, Jad Elharake, Devin Jones, Ibtihal Makki and former Central Student Govern- ment vice president Nadine Jawad had conversations about what the Diversi- ty, Equity and Inclusion