OU Allows Fraternity Back On Campus

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ The University of Oklahoma has reinstated a national fraternity that lost its campus charter after one of its pledges died of alcohol poisoning in 2004. Sigma Chi's charter was

Friday, May 18th 2007, 5:01 pm

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ The University of Oklahoma has reinstated a national fraternity that lost its campus charter after one of its pledges died of alcohol poisoning in 2004. Sigma Chi's charter was revoked after Blake Hammontree, 19, of Medford was found dead from alcohol poisoning at the fraternity house. His blood alcohol content was 0.42, more than five times the legal standard for intoxication, according to a state medical examiner's report.

In spring 2006, OU gave the fraternity conditions to meet if it wished to have its charter reinstated. Those conditions included presenting a business plan for chapter operations and activities, agreeing to comply with the university's plan to fight alcohol abuse and the appointment of an alumni supervisory committee.

``I am very pleased that Sigma Chi has met the high standards set by the university to be recognized once again as a registered student organization,'' OU President David Boren said in a prepared statement.

Sigma Chi will be able to recruit members for the 2007-08 school year.

``The chapter is ready to make a positive contribution to the campus and community,'' said Mark Anderson, the executive secretary for the Evanston, Ill.-based fraternity. ``We believe that having gone through this reinstatement process, these brothers have experienced a great deal of growth individually and collectively.''