University of Michigan fraternity suspended after causing $50G in damage to ski resort

This photo shows a damaged room at the Treetops Resort in Dover Township, Mich. (Courtesy Treetops Resort)

A University of Michigan fraternity has been suspended by its national office after its members were accused of helping to cause $50,000 in damage at a ski resort last weekend.

In a statement released Thursday, the university said that Sigma Alpha Mu had been ordered to halt all activities "for an indefinite period." The school also said that the incident was being investigated by the Michigan State Police.

Treetops Resort Manager Barry Owens told the Detroit Free Press that the students were escorted off the premises by state troopers, but not before 120 fraternity and sorority members caused significant damage to ceiling tiles, as well as broken furniture and windows. Owens claims the students also damaged carpets and walls.

"The rooms were just a pigsty," Owens told the Lansing State Journal. "Unfortunately, I’ve been in this business for 30 years and it’s the worst condition of rooms that I’ve ever seen."

Sigma Alpha Mu President Michigan chapter President Joshua Kaplan said in a statement Wednesday that the fraternity was "embarrassed and ashamed of the behavior" of some of its members. He added that the chapter "accepts full responsibility" and "will be working with the management of the resort to pay for all damages and cleaning costs."

The Free Press reported that the University's Office of Greek Life is asking the national offices of five other fraternities and sororities to suspend them over similar activities. University officials said the Sigma Delta Tau sorority was involved in the vandalism at the Treetops Resort. In a separate incident, members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity; Alpha Phi sorority, Chi Psi fraternity and Delta Gamma sorority damaged condominiums at another resort.

Meanwhile, Owens told USA Today that he planned to meet with university officials and was considering whether to press charges against the frat. The resort is located near Gaylord, Mich., over 200 miles north of the university, in Ann Arbor.