Stanford’s oldest frat sues university

This article was first published on Sept. 4.

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer

Stanford’s oldest fraternity that was kicked off campus for allegedly allowing underaged drinking is suing the university for ending its lease.

The fraternity, Sigma Chi, wants Stanford to pay at least $35 million for not allowing members to move back into 550 Lasuen Mall, where they had been since 1937.

That’s how much buying new land close to campus and constructing a new building would cost, the lawsuit said.

Lease dispute

Sigma Chi said its parent corporation has invested an estimated $46 million in the house, and the lease was “renewed indefinitely” in 1976.

Yet Stanford took the house back in violation of the lease, according to the lawsuit filed on Aug. 28 in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

In response, university spokeswoman Luisa Rapport said yesterday that Stanford was surprised to see a new lawsuit concerning the house at 550 Lasuen.

Stanford believes the dispute was resolved in a settlement agreement in March 2021 that said Sigma Chi will have the ability to apply for an on-campus house in the future, like other recognized Greek organizations, but isn’t guaranteed a return.

Underage drinking

Sigma Chi was suspended for three years in May 2018 after a Stanford investigation found the fraternity provided alcohol to underage students.

Sigma Chi was also busted for underage drinking in October 2015. While the investigation found no hazing, the frat was banned from hosting any other social events for the remainder of the fall semester that year.

The fraternity was the school’s oldest active Greek organization, chartered on campus in 1891.

Sigma Chi’s attorney Mark Hathaway said fraternity members should’ve been allowed to return the house in June 2021, but Stanford wanted to use the building for student housing.

This fall, every fraternity or sorority on campus will compete against each other for what are now designated as 10 separate university-owned residences to house Greek life, but Sigma Chi shouldn’t be a part of that process, the lawsuit said.