Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity will return to Northwestern University's Evanston campus this fall after a one-year suspension, school administrators said Wednesday.
SAE was on probation for serving alcohol to minors at a party in fall 2016, and prohibited from hosting any gatherings throughout 2017, when members continued to host social events with alcohol that January, Northwestern spokesman Bob Rowley said in a statement at the time.
As a result of that probation violation, in April 2017, university administrators suspended the fraternity for one academic year.
That suspension came months after the university received reports that as many as four female students were possibly given a date rape drug during an SAE event. Two of those women said they believed they were sexually assaulted, according to the university, which sent out a security alert on the incident and launched an investigation into the allegations.
Northwestern said in April 2017 that no disciplinary action would be taken against SAE in connection with the assault allegations, just weeks before the school barred the organization from campus over the unrelated violation of its probation.
After a membership review, SAE headquarters staff selected 17 of the 40 eligible undergraduate students to return to the fraternity, with 13 members living in the house, Northwestern spokesman Jon Yates said in a statement Wednesday.
Those members will have a "full-time live-in house director who will oversee operations and serve as a mentor," Yates said, adding that the organization will remain on alcohol and disciplinary probation.
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A spokesman for SAE's national organization, headquartered in Evanston, did not immediately respond to request for comment.
