 "Photo: File photo")
The Sigma Beta fraternity has been suspended and nine of its members arrested following a drug raid by multiple New Hampshire law enforcement agencies on Tuesday evening.
The raid, which took place between the hours of 7 p.m. Tuesday and 2 a.m. Wednesday, netted a significant amount of illegal drugs, according to Durham Deputy Police Chief Rene Kelley. The drugs included marijuana, Ecstasy, oxycodine, psychedelic mushrooms and other unidentified prescription drugs as well as assorted drug paraphernalia.
The next morning Sigma Beta was put on interim suspension and is now subject to a review by the UNH Office of Conduct and Mediation.
While under suspension the fraternity is denied "all rights and privileges of a recognized student organization, including loss of rights and privileges of membership in the UNH Interfraternity Council." They have 10 days to appeal the suspension.
"The primary purpose of the interim suspension policy is to allow the university to move quickly to ensure the safety and well-being of the university community," said Mark Rubinstein, vice president of student and academic affairs.
Under the policy of the UNH Code of Conduct, Sigma Beta will meet with the conduct office to discuss whether the organization represents an immediate and ongoing threat to the university.
If the fraternity is put on a sustained suspension they could be put on a prolonged probation or be dismissed from the university.
Prior to the arrests, Sigma Beta was on probation for a May incident involving hazing, public intoxication and illegal drinking. Senior Assistant Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs Anne Lawing told Foster's Daily Democrat that Sigma Beta "found or took responsibility" for those charges and sanctions are pending.
The Sigma Beta house will remain open during the suspension because it's not owned by the university. The fraternity currently has 35 members, though it's unclear how many members live at the house.
The arrests are a result of a three-month combined investigation by the New Hampshire Attorney General's Drug Task Force, the Durham Police Department and the UNH Police Department. The arrests were made with the assistance of officers from police departments in Dover, Rochester, Madbury and the Strafford County Sheriff's Department.
The university was advised an investigation was taking place, according to Rubinstein.
Of the nine men arrested, three were charged with felonies, which carry a minimum one- year penalty.
Andrew Borges, 20, of Berkeley, Mass., was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. He was released on $15,000 personal recognizance bail.
David Mason, 19, of Newfields, N.H., was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. He was released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail.
John Dold, 19, of Stratham, N.H., was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance. He was released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail.
Six others - Michael DeAngelo, 19, of Westford, Mass.; Anthony Moccia, 19, of Laconia, N.H.; Matthew Bessette, 20, of Lincoln, R.I.; David Schechter, 19, of Amherst, N.H.; Conor Leary, 20, of Leominster, Mass.; and Jesse Boschetto, 19, of Marshfield, Mass. - were charged with possession of a controlled drug and unlawful possession of alcohol. All six were held on $800 personal recognizance bail.
Of the men arrested, five were sophomores, two were juniors and two were freshmen. Leary is listed on Sigma Beta's website as the organizations' secretary.
When asked what drugs were specifically being manufactured, Kelley said the arrested men were allegedly growing marijuana.
Despite campus rumors the raid involved a SWAT team and aggressive tactics, Kelley said the police were allowed into the house willingly and the arrests were made without incident.
Kelley had no comment when asked if the investigation was central to the Sigma Beta house or including other Greek houses, nor would he specify the total amount of drugs seized. He said the information would be revealed following legal proceedings.
He said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.
Student reaction to the arrests has been mixed. Students expressed surprise a raid happened, but not that drugs were found.
"I just think that it is stupid that [the police] went through that much trouble to apprehend those people when everyone else on campus does the same thing pretty much," said junior Reagan Grady.
"I think it sucks," said junior Dave Carroll. "But, I'm not surprised. A lot of drugs go through that fraternity and I am surprised that it did not happen sooner. I think all regulations will get tighter."
"I was surprised, but not very surprised. It's a college campus and drugs happen on college campuses," said junior Trista Dufresne. "Some people hold Greek life with high standards so hearing this kind of breaks them. I definitely don't feel like anything good is going to come from this."
UNH Coordinator of Greek Life Adam McCready was optimistic the arrests at Sigma Beta won't have a dampening effect on the UNH Greek community.
"I'd like to think that [the arrests] are not representative of our values-based Greek community," said McCready.
Sigma Beta's website said the fraternity was founded in 1921 by "friends that wanted to do something special in their college years."
McCready said he and his office are still available to Sigma Beta members during the review process.
He also mentioned the Greek system is experiencing a 10-year high in membership and there have been a "number of positive things over the year," including "a growth in internal accountability."
"I hope this doesn't impede [the Greek system's] growth in the future," he said.
The UNH chapter of Sigma Beta has also been involved in some troubles in the past.
In 2005, Sigma Beta member and reigning Greek Man of the Year John Condosta was arrested for public intoxication. In 2004, the fraternity was suspended after two pledging members set off fireworks inside the house.
Other UNH fraternities have been suspended in the past as well, with two eventually losing university recognition because of their conduct.
In 1994, Zeta Chi Beta (formerly Theta Chi) lost university recognition after being charged with prostitution and selling alcohol during a recruitment event. The fraternity was eventually convicted of those crimes by the state Supreme Court.
In 2003, Phi Kappa Theta lost recognition after a lengthy history of UNH policy violations and numerous incidents with the university and Durham police.
Also in 2003, two fraternities, Alpha Tao Omega and Phi Kappa Sigma, were fined for violating state laws of public assembly, when they allowed too many people into parties at their respective houses.
The court dates for the nine men arrested have been set for Oct. 23 and Nov 6.
Currently, three other Greek organizations are on probation in addition to Sigma Beta.
Members of Sigma Beta did not answer requests for comments on this article.
Keep checking tnhonline.com for more as this story develops.
If you have any additional information regarding this story, please contact Executive Editor John Ferguson at (603)862-1490 or tnh.editor@unh.edu.
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