Post by T J Gordon on Aug 30, 2013 12:32:49 GMT -5
www.tallahassee.com/article/20130829/NEWS/308290021
Update: 3:29 p.m.
The attorney for a Florida State University fraternity president has said his client is innocent and broke no laws when he was arrested at his fraternity house Monday night.
Ethan Way, the attorney for Christopher Berman, 21, said the Florida State University Police Department overreacted in their arresting of Berman at the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house on West Pensacola Street.
Berman, the president of the fraternity, was arrested after two underage drinkers linked to the party were arrested. He now faces a charge he allowed minors to consume alcohol at a house party.
Way said there is "no doubt" Berman will be acquitted and that he politely dealt with police officers who showed up at the house.
He said Berman did not break any laws and that he was simply "addressing matters as the president of the fraternity."
Berman, said Way, is a credit to the university.
"Mr. Berman is en exceptional young man."
Update: 6:20 a.m.
The assistant dean of students at Florida State University has issued a statement regarding the arrest of an FSU fraternity president on Monday evening.
The Dean of Students' Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities and the Greek Conduct Board plans to review each incident report related to the arrest of 21-year-old Matthew Berman, the president of the FSU chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
According to Robyn Brock, assistant dean of students and director of greek life at FSU, the office and the board will look to see if there were any potential violations to the university's Student Conduct Code.
Berman was arrested on a charge he allowed minors to drink alcohol at a party at the ATO house at 733 W. Pensacola St. on Monday night, according to the FSU Police Department.
Police were tipped off to the house after two people discovered to be at the house were arrested on charges of underage drinking.
"Florida State University takes all allegations of student alcohol misuse very seriously. State and federal privacy laws prohibit Florida State from providing information about a specific case," said Brock in an email.
Brock added that the the Interfraternity Council, which is made up of student representatives from FSU fraternities, has been made aware of the situation as well.
received for potential violations of the Student Conduct Code.
Original Story:
The president of a Florida State University fraternity has been arrested on charges he allowed minors to consume alcohol at a house party Monday night.
Matthew Berman, 21, was arrested at the Alpha Tau Omega house at 733 W. Pensacola St. after the Florida State University Police Department arrested two people for underage drinking earlier in the night, according to an arrest report provided by FSUPD.
One of the underage drinking arrests occurred on Woodward Avenue near the intersection of Learning Way. The person arrested said they had come from the ATO house, leading police to the residence, the report said.
When police arrived at the house, a group of people scattered to the side of the house, including one who was found to be 20 years old. Berman then was approached by police and arrested.
Wynn Smiley, chief executive officer for the national chapter of Alpha Tau Omega, said the chapter is looking into the circumstances surrounding Berman’s arrest and what occurred at the house that night.
Smiley said they are working with university officials to gauge what action they should take in regard to the FSU chapter, which he described as “a good chapter” and “not wild and crazy.”
“We’ll respond, we won’t over respond,” Smiley said.
He said the gathering was not an open function, but consisted of just members in the house and some of their girlfriends. Smiley said Berman was arrested because he is chapter president and not because he did anything wrong.
“It probably looks worse than it is because Matt got arrested,” Smiley said. “Our rules and procedures prohibit underage drinking, so certainly we’ll be following up with the chapter.”
If he does find there was underage drinking going on at the house, Smiley said action will be taken against the FSU chapter, but it would depend on what they find out in talking with the chapter and university.
“I can’t speculate on what that will be, but we will take action,” said Smiley.
Update: 3:29 p.m.
The attorney for a Florida State University fraternity president has said his client is innocent and broke no laws when he was arrested at his fraternity house Monday night.
Ethan Way, the attorney for Christopher Berman, 21, said the Florida State University Police Department overreacted in their arresting of Berman at the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house on West Pensacola Street.
Berman, the president of the fraternity, was arrested after two underage drinkers linked to the party were arrested. He now faces a charge he allowed minors to consume alcohol at a house party.
Way said there is "no doubt" Berman will be acquitted and that he politely dealt with police officers who showed up at the house.
He said Berman did not break any laws and that he was simply "addressing matters as the president of the fraternity."
Berman, said Way, is a credit to the university.
"Mr. Berman is en exceptional young man."
Update: 6:20 a.m.
The assistant dean of students at Florida State University has issued a statement regarding the arrest of an FSU fraternity president on Monday evening.
The Dean of Students' Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities and the Greek Conduct Board plans to review each incident report related to the arrest of 21-year-old Matthew Berman, the president of the FSU chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
According to Robyn Brock, assistant dean of students and director of greek life at FSU, the office and the board will look to see if there were any potential violations to the university's Student Conduct Code.
Berman was arrested on a charge he allowed minors to drink alcohol at a party at the ATO house at 733 W. Pensacola St. on Monday night, according to the FSU Police Department.
Police were tipped off to the house after two people discovered to be at the house were arrested on charges of underage drinking.
"Florida State University takes all allegations of student alcohol misuse very seriously. State and federal privacy laws prohibit Florida State from providing information about a specific case," said Brock in an email.
Brock added that the the Interfraternity Council, which is made up of student representatives from FSU fraternities, has been made aware of the situation as well.
received for potential violations of the Student Conduct Code.
Original Story:
The president of a Florida State University fraternity has been arrested on charges he allowed minors to consume alcohol at a house party Monday night.
Matthew Berman, 21, was arrested at the Alpha Tau Omega house at 733 W. Pensacola St. after the Florida State University Police Department arrested two people for underage drinking earlier in the night, according to an arrest report provided by FSUPD.
One of the underage drinking arrests occurred on Woodward Avenue near the intersection of Learning Way. The person arrested said they had come from the ATO house, leading police to the residence, the report said.
When police arrived at the house, a group of people scattered to the side of the house, including one who was found to be 20 years old. Berman then was approached by police and arrested.
Wynn Smiley, chief executive officer for the national chapter of Alpha Tau Omega, said the chapter is looking into the circumstances surrounding Berman’s arrest and what occurred at the house that night.
Smiley said they are working with university officials to gauge what action they should take in regard to the FSU chapter, which he described as “a good chapter” and “not wild and crazy.”
“We’ll respond, we won’t over respond,” Smiley said.
He said the gathering was not an open function, but consisted of just members in the house and some of their girlfriends. Smiley said Berman was arrested because he is chapter president and not because he did anything wrong.
“It probably looks worse than it is because Matt got arrested,” Smiley said. “Our rules and procedures prohibit underage drinking, so certainly we’ll be following up with the chapter.”
If he does find there was underage drinking going on at the house, Smiley said action will be taken against the FSU chapter, but it would depend on what they find out in talking with the chapter and university.
“I can’t speculate on what that will be, but we will take action,” said Smiley.
