MIT Revokes SAE Fraternity's License

Following a Sept. 2 incident where an under-aged Wellesley College student was hospitalized after being served alcohol, the Boston Licensing Board revoked the dormitory license of MIT's Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity on Friday.

The decision, which will effectively close the fraternity, calls for residents of the fraternity house at 484 Beacon St. in Boston to move out by Nov. 15.

The last time the licensing board withdrew a fraternity's dormitory license was the fall of 1997, following the alcohol-related death of MIT first-year Scott Krueger, whose death prompted colleges nationwide to address issues surrounding alcohol consumption on campus.

In a statement released after the board's ruling, MIT officials said they supported the decision and were "deeply disappointed" that SAE students had chosen not to appear at their Oct. 26 hearing before the board.

"Students must accept responsibility for their actions and must understand that they will be held accountable--by MIT and by the civil authorities," the statement read.

The Boston Herald reported that the fraternity members chose not appear on the advice of their attorney.

"What's troubling here is the cover-up of the fraternity members. Not one of them has had the decency to come forward," the Herald reported Board Chair Daniel Pokaski as saying,

SAE had already been placed on alcohol-free probation through this current semester by MIT, following an incident in 1998 in which an under-aged prospective student was served alcohol by fraternity members.

SAE was suspended by MIT Sept. 22 after campus police brought charges against the fraternity for serving the Wellesley student.

The suspension means that SAE members cannot participate in school events as a group.

According to the MIT press office, these charges would be grounds for banning the fraternity from the Institute. A final decision will be made following an upcoming disciplinary hearing before MIT's dean.

SAE has also been suspended by the Interfraternity Council of MIT, meaning that the fraternity is prohibited from rushing first-years.

--Victoria C. Hallett contributed to the reporting of this article.