UNM fraternity suspended amid assault allegation

A University of New Mexico fraternity has been directed to suspend all chapter activities pending an inquiry into an alleged sexual assault at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity on April 2.

According to a UNM Police Department report, detectives were called to the Albuquerque SANE (Sexual Assault Nurses Examiners) unit at 2 p.m. Wednesday in regard to a possible criminal sexual penetration that an unidentified person alleged occurred the night before at the SAE fraternity house at 1811 Mesa Vista NE.

Detectives interviewed the alleged victim and “identified a suspect who is cooperating with the investigation,” the police report states.

Collected evidence was forwarded to the State Crime Lab for forensic examination, the report states.

In a letter Thursday to fraternity president Ryan Williams, Rob Burford, judicial affairs specialist for UNM’s Dean of Students Office, said he had been informed of an “alleged non-registered party, which included alcohol and an alleged sexual assault.”

“Due to this information, I am charging Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity” with violations of the UNM Student Code of Conduct, Burford wrote. He directed the fraternity to suspend all chapter activities — except for chapter meetings and normal house activities — while the suspension is in effect.

Burford said in the letter that fraternity officials could request an informal hearing regarding the suspension by April 16. A phone call to Burford seeking comment on the status of the suspension was not immediately returned Monday.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal