Another Southeast fraternity reports damaged residence

A Southeast Missouri State University fraternity house became at least the third to be vandalized this school year, officials said Monday.

The Sigma Phi Epsilon home, 1403 N. Sprigg St., was broken into and vandalized Saturday afternoon, according to university spokeswoman Ann Hayes.

In the kitchen, washable paint covered countertops and condiment packages were thrown about. A small rug of the fraternity's crest was torn and cut. Curtains in two rooms were spray painted, one with lewd language, and couches and chairs were turned upside down.

Two end tables were also flipped over, but their glass tops were apparently taken off first as they had not been broken, according to Southeast senior and house resident Ricky Rozycki, 22. Similarly, trophies that had rested on one of the flipped-over end tables were also undamaged.

A billiards table was spray painted with the letters of a fake fraternity, "Sigma Chi Epsilon." In the basement, Christmas ornaments and other glassware were broken.

Ben Alvarado, 22, a Southeast senior and vice president of housing for the fraternity, said he believed the vandalism was caused by a rival fraternity. He also implicated the same fraternity as being involved in urinating in hallways and damaging a television in K Building, which also houses Sigma Phi Epsilon members.

Hayes confirmed the April 2 damage in K Building. The Southeast Department of Public Safety had no suspects in either the April 2 or Saturday crimes.

While there has been a rise in fraternity-related vandalism this year, Hayes said there was no evidence to suggest a connection between the incidences.

In early March, members of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity were awoken in the early morning to sounds of people outside their home, 333 N. Pacific St. When the men went outside to investigate, they found graffiti spray painted along the house.

In another separate incident in October, nine men were charged with trespassing and property damage for sneaking into the Pi Kappa Alpha Lodge and spray painting the walls of a room. Most charged in the incident were members of the Sigma Chi fraternity. The vandalism allegedly was in retaliation for Pi Kappa Alpha members stealing a Sigma Chi goat.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

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