Fraternity and Sorority Affairs

Judge dismisses Sammy lawsuit, fraternity brothers to move out within the coming weeks

By Annie Palmer

After months of dispute and uncertainty, Sigma Alpha Mu’s lawsuit against Zeta Psi was dismissed from Onondaga County Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Sigma Alpha Mu, also known as Sammy, filed the lawsuit against Syracuse Association Zeta Psi in March, alleging that Zeta Psi violated the housing contract between the two fraternities. Sammy has rented Zeta Psi’s house, located at 727 Comstock Ave., since 2007.

In the lawsuit filed by the Sammy Alumni Board (Etasam), the fraternity claimed Zeta Psi verbally agreed to extend the lease until 2015, but acted in “bad faith” toward Sammy by deciding to lease its house to Phi Gamma Delta instead.

Sammy has no current plans to appeal, said Jason Simon, a member of the board of directors for Etasam. Simon said the fraternity respects the judge’s decision, but is disappointed with the outcome.

“We believe our claims against Zeta Psi remain to be true,” Simon said. “We now find ourselves to be in a significant problem, just like we were in the end of March.”



The fraternity Phi Gamma Delta, also known as FiJi, will begin its lease of 727 Comstock Ave. on Aug. 1, said Derek McClenaghan, president of Syracuse University’s FiJi chapter. Fifteen of the fraternity’s 26 brothers will move into the residence soon after the lease begins, he said.

McClenaghan said moving into an on-campus residence will provide FiJi with more opportunities to get involved with greek life than the fraternity’s previous house on 726 Ostrom Ave. He said FiJi and Sammy have maintained a respectful relationship throughout the transitional process.

Sammy will be moving out within the coming weeks but is still dealing with problems such as mold infestation, Simon said.

McClenaghan said Zeta Psi is working with FiJi to resolve the mold problem, but that the infestation will not prevent the brothers from moving into the residence.

Simon said the fraternity plans to use the 2013-14 academic year to lease another house, but will still have a role in SU Greek life.





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