Sigma Delta sorority has been charged with three felony counts of providing alcohol to minors, according to a press release from Hanover Police.
The charges were issued in the wake of a Sept. 21 incident involving an intoxicated 19 year old, the release said. A subsequent investigation by Hanover Police found that the minor had been drinking at Sigma Delt.
The other two charges stem from two similar incidents in April involving intoxicated minors, according to the release. In May, Hanover Police issued an official warning to the sorority's president and house adviser, saying that the two cases would be suspended, but that further violations of the New Hampshire liquor law would result in "prosecution for all cases, past and present," the release said.
Hanover Police issued a court summons to Sigma Delt President Catie Burkhard '11, who is scheduled to appear before the Lebanon District Court on Oct. 18, according to the report.
"It is unfortunate these events occurred and Sigma Delta is working to cooperate with the Hanover Police to resolve this issue as efficiently as possible," Burkhard said in a written statement.
The Tabard coed fraternity was involved in a similar situation earlier this year, when it faced two charges including one that had been previously suspended of serving alcohol to minors after an underage student was found intoxicated, The Dartmouth previously reported. Tabard pled no contest to the charges, and agreed to pay a $2,000 fine for each charge and to complete 500 community service hours.
Under New Hampshire law, Greek organizations are considered corporations, meaning that they can be fined as much as $100,000 per conviction of serving alcohol to minors.
Tabard, along with five other Greek organizations, were investigated by Hanover Police last Spring for having served alcohol to underage students, The Dartmouth previously reported. The other cases were not prosecuted in light of efforts by the College and Greek organizations to address concerns about campus alcohol consumption.
It has not been confirmed whether or not Sigma Delt was one of the five identified Greek organizations.
The investigations came after Hanover Police's February announcement that it would begin controversial "sting operations" at Greek houses to enforce compliance with alcohol laws. The police later indefinitely postponed the compliance checks following the creation of the Student and Presidential Alcohol Harm Reduction Committee, formed by College President Jim Yong Kim to address problems with the campus's drinking culture.
Safety and Security associate director Keiselim Montas declined to comment on the charges.
Hanover Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone could not be reached for comment by press time.
