Two members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon allegedly assaulted police officers on two separate occasions in the last two weeks, sending a University Police officer to the hospital. These incidents jeopardize chapter president Andrew Hopkins’s goal of improving the fraternity’s image at GW and recall the shenanigans of the past that led to bad feelings between Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the University and other fraternities.

The actions of individuals should not always reflect upon the group, but the fact remains that they do. Perhaps these two fraternity brothers, in assaulting a Metropolitan Police officer and elbowing a UPD sergeant, made poor choices independent of each other in circumstances beyond the fraternity’s control. Still, both incidents happened at the chapter’s house. The MPD officer was allegedly assaulted on the doorstep while attempting to gain lawful entrance, according to police. And after elbowing the UPD officer, the fraternity member ran inside his chapter’s house.

Of course, the fraternity members have different stories, and both are facing misdemeanor assault charges. The fraternity members both say police assaulted them in some way before they hit the officers. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon member who allegedly hit the UPD officer says he visited the hospital for a wrist injury.

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding each incident, hitting a police officer is wrong, and authorities are right to arrest and charge the fraternity members with assault for their behavior. Expulsion from a University is a serious punishment, and one well deserved for attacking law enforcement officials.

If the police acted improperly, the correct action is to file a complaint and go through administrative and judicial processes.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon and its members should take responsibility for their actions and at least apologize for striking the UPD officer who clearly sustained injuries from the confrontation. If the fraternity wants to improve its image, words will not be enough. Each member will have to ensure that his actions do not reflect poorly upon himself, his chapter and the University.