A northern Michigan prosecutor filed charges against three University of Michigan students after their fraternity was blamed for widespread vandalism at a ski resort during a wild weekend party.
Only one member of Sigma Alpha Mu was charged with a felony, malicious destruction of a building, less than $20,000. But Otsego County prosecutor Michael Rola said he’ll likely pursue charges against several other members.
Treetops Resort in Gaylord “did not have active cameras in the common areas of the resort at the time of the fraternity’s stay,” said Rola, adding that additional steps are being taken to learn the names of students and hold them accountable.
The fraternity’s president and treasurer were charged with allowing drug and alcohol use by minors, which is a misdemeanor, Rola said. No names were released.
Treetops has said damages, legal fees and other expenses have reached $430,000. Dozens of rooms were trashed. On that same January weekend, Boyne Highlands, near Petoskey, reported property damage by students who also belong to the University of Michigan’s Greek system.
“We had complete confidence that the Michigan State Police and the prosecuting attorney would conduct a thorough investigation,” said Treetops general manager Barry Owens. “We appreciate their efforts and are happy to hear that charges are being brought forward.”
Sigma Alpha Mu’s international board this week said the Ann Arbor chapter was being shut down. The university called the Treetops incident “reprehensible.”
The university has restricted the activities of Sigma Delta Tau sorority for two years. Two fraternities, Pi Kappa Alpha and Chi Psi, and two sororities, Delta Gamma and Alpha Phi, were reprimanded for what happened at Boyne.
“That’s insane,” graduate student Greg Dandeles said in reaction to the Treetops damage. “Only rock stars do that.”
Fraternity Members Accused of Vandalism at Michigan Ski Resorts
Estimate of Vandalism Damage at Michigan Ski Resort Quadruples
Topics Michigan
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