PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — In a letter emailed today to all members of the campus community, senior officers of Brown University announced sanctions to be imposed on two fraternities responsible for holding unregistered parties last fall, creating environments that facilitated sexual misconduct. The letter, from Russell Carey, executive vice president for planning and policy, and Margaret Klawunn, vice president for campus life and student services, also announced a comprehensive review of alcohol policy and social event regulations this spring. (A note clarifying those regulations was sent Jan. 30 and appears below.) 
 
 “The measures we are taking this spring reflect our interest in preventing sexual assault by addressing the campus climate at Brown,” the letter said. “All Brown community members need to be involved in preventing sexual violence, and all student organizations are expected to ensure that adequate security measures are in place to promote safe events and activities.” 
 
 The letter announced the following sanctions: 
 
 In both cases, the sanctions were upheld on appeal and the national chapters have been informed of the University’s action. No individual member of either fraternity was charged with sexual misconduct. 
 
 Text of the University’s letter 
 
 January 19, 2015 
 
 Dear Member of the Brown Community: 
 
 This year, in keeping with new federal guidelines for college campuses and in support of the aims of Brown’s Task Force on Sexual Assault, we have increased communication and transparency regarding incidents of sexual misconduct. When privacy and confidentiality guidelines permit, we are providing information about incidents and the University response. We are writing now with an update about two incidents from fall 2014 and about plans to review our policies pertaining to social events and alcohol service. 
 
 The two incidents described in this letter involve unregistered parties hosted by fraternities. In both cases, no individual member of either fraternity was charged with sexual misconduct. These student organizations were found responsible for creating an environment that facilitated sexual misconduct through improperly monitored spaces and inadequate safeguards surrounding the service of alcohol. 
 
 The measures we are taking this spring reflect our interest in preventing sexual assault by addressing the campus climate at Brown. All Brown community members need to be involved in preventing sexual violence, and all student organizations are expected to ensure that adequate security measures are in place to promote safe events and activities. We recognize that, in the instances discussed in this letter, not all students within the organizations were individually responsible for the events that occurred. It is imperative, however, that all students take full responsibility for the behaviors of their organizations. The sanctions that have been imposed in these cases are emblematic of a growing recognition that the status quo of social events that place students at risk is simply not acceptable. 
 
 Student Organization Incidents from Fall 2014 
 
 On October 3, 2014, Sigma Chi, a fraternity in Olney House, hosted an unregistered party in the basement of their residence. The Department of Public Safety responded and broke up the party. One student reported an incident of non-consensual contact of a sexual nature that occurred as students were exiting the crowded basement. The complainant was not able to identify the specific individual who was responsible for touching her. 
 
 The fraternity had a student organization hearing on October 31 related to charges of the unauthorized party, serving alcohol to minors, and creating an unsafe environment that resulted in an incident of non-consensual sexual contact. As a result, the fraternity was sanctioned with probation and suspension of social and University privileges until fall 2016. During their sanction, Sigma Chi cannot sponsor any social events and has lost access to their chapter room, lounge, library, and basement. In addition, the fraternity is ineligible to conduct recruitment, rush, or initiation processes. Fraternity members are responsible for participating in educational programs on alcohol, sexual assault, and maintaining a safe environment. This decision was upheld following an appeal. The national chapter of this fraternity has been notified of the offenses. 
 
 On October 17, 2014, Phi Kappa Psi, a fraternity in Sears House, held an unregistered party during which two students reported receiving an alcoholic drink that contained a date rape drug. The fraternity was charged with creating an environment that facilitated inappropriate, potentially dangerous, and possibly criminal behavior by hosting a party where guests were served a drink that contained a date rape drug. One student reported an incident of non-consensual sexual contact that did not happen within the fraternity’s facility nor did it involve a member of the fraternity, but its occurrence was a result of the student’s incapacitation. 
 
 A student organization hearing for Phi Kappa Psi was held on December 5, 2014. The fraternity was found responsible for the following violations: actions that can result in harm; illegal possession or use of drugs; illegal provision, sale, or possession with intent to sell/provide drugs; and violation of operational rules. Since the organization was monitoring and controlling beverage service, it was found responsible for the provision of a drink that contained gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB). The conduct board, consisting of a faculty member, student, and an administrator, sanctioned the organization with loss of University recognition for four years, including loss of housing. This decision was upheld following an appeal. After the appeal was concluded, some questions were raised regarding the validity of one laboratory test that was part of the evidence that indicated students had been given GHB. It will be decided, after a thorough and final review of the physical evidence, whether the findings and sanctions against Phi Kappa Psi should be modified. 
 
 Because the fraternity was found responsible for several serious violations, based on evidence that is not in dispute, and which by themselves warrant strong sanctions, and because of the fraternity’s history of disciplinary infractions involving unauthorized events and alcohol violations, the sanctions recommended by the Student Conduct Board will be put into effect immediately. The national chapter of this fraternity has been notified of the offenses. 
 
 Plans for Review of Campus Policies 
 
 In conjunction with our on-going and intensified efforts to prevent and address sexual assault at Brown, this spring the Division of Campus Life and Student Services will conduct a comprehensive review of alcohol policy and social event regulations to promote a safer environment on campus. Given Greek Council’s interest in preventing sexual assault, we look forward to partnering with them and with other students, faculty, and staff in reviewing our policies governing campus events. 
 
 While the review is underway this spring, no events with alcohol can be held in any Greek or program houses. Student organizations in good standing can host events in which alcohol is served to students aged 21 and over, in approved campus spaces. All such events must be registered with the Student Activities Office. We are prohibiting parties with alcohol service in residential areas. Approved events will have appropriate security and safety measures in place. 
 
 We are encouraged that as a result of increased attention, awareness, and resources, more students are reporting incidents of sexual misconduct when they occur. At the same time, we expect individuals and organizations to be vigilant in their efforts to prevent and to intervene in harmful situations. The University offers a range of programs, including bystander intervention workshops, which can be scheduled by contacting the Office of Health Promotion. Students who wish to report an incident or are seeking support and counseling should visit the Health Promotion web page for available resources. 
 
 Sincerely, 
 
 Russell Carey, Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy 
 
 Margaret Klawunn, Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services ||||| PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — One of two Brown University students who reported rapid intoxication followed by memory loss after drinking punch at a fraternity party tested positive for a date-rape drug, a university official announced in a campus-wide email. 
 
 The email sent late Saturday by Margaret Klawunn, vice president for campus life and student services at Brown, said tests on the other student remain pending, The Providence Journal reported (http://bit.ly/1snd2T3 ). One of the students also reported being sexually assaulted. 
 
 The student tested positive for gamma hydroxybutyrate, a date-rape drug also known as GHB, Klawunn wrote. 
 
 "GHB is a colorless, odorless drug that can be hard to detect in a drink," the email said, "but has a strong sedative effect that is incapacitating." 
 
 The two students reported they experienced "a rapid onset of intoxication" beyond what they expected from the amount they drank, and "memory loss for a significant period of time" after drinking the punch, Klawunn wrote. 
 
 University officials suspended the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, which hosted the Oct. 17 event at a residential hall. 
 
 Members of the fraternity said in a recent letter to The Brown Daily Herald that news involving the two students took them by surprise and they were confident "that in no way did any member of Phi Kappa Psi engage in or perpetrate such atrocious and criminal behavior." They said no members of the fraternity have been accused of or criminally charged with sexual assault. 
 
 School officials are urging students with information about the date-rape drug or the alleged sexual assault to contact university police. 
 
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 Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.providencejournal.com
– Brown University has imposed tough sanctions on two fraternities that held unlicensed parties, including one where a student said she was sexually assaulted after drinking punch spiked with a date-rape drug. That fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, has lost university recognition for four years and will lose its housing, reports the Providence Journal. Another, Sigma Chi, is on probation, has had its privileges suspended until next fall, and will be "ineligible to conduct recruitment, rush, or initiation processes," the university said in a statement. Officials say a student reported being touched in a sexual nature as the Department of Public Safety shut down an unregistered Sigma Chi party in October. No member of either fraternity has been charged with sexual misconduct, but the university says they're responsible "for creating an environment that facilitated sexual misconduct through improperly monitored spaces and inadequate safeguards surrounding the service of alcohol." Officials tell the Brown Daily Herald that Phi Kappa Psi received the toughest sanctions because of its history of infractions, and many members have already been moved out of the frat house. The university has also decided to ban registered events with alcohol in residential areas, including Greek houses, although they can still be held in spaces designated for parties. (The University of Virginia recently reinstated its Phi Kappa Psi chapter.)