One Student Association senator is saying she will make a motion at the SA meeting Sunday to remove SA recognition from the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Five members of Sigma Chi performed a skit Nov. 20 which was considered by some audience members as racially and sexually derogatory. The fraternity received a one-year suspension Nov. 28 by Jon Dalton, vice president for student affairs.

SA Sen. Regina Hudson said that, in light of Sigma Chi’s suspension, the next logical step is for the SA to remove the fraternity’s recognition. She said she will motion Sunday that the SA remove recognition for the duration of the fraternity’s university suspension.

Dalton has said that if the SA pulls Sigma Chi’s recognition, the Interfraternity Council also will be forced to remove recognition from the fraternity. When an organization is recognized by the SA, it is eligible for SA funding, poster stamping privileges and use of rooms in the Holmes Student Center.

Senate Speaker Joe Annunzio said the issue will appear on the senate’s agenda but “may be postponed until next semester.”

Annunzio said the senate is trying to obtain a videotape made of the skit because it was performed at the same time as the Nov. 20 SA meeting, and most SA officials did not view it. “I don’t think the senate should jump the gun and pull recognition without knowing the facts,” he said.

“If they lose (SA) recognition and lose two semesters of rush, they’re going to have to be a hell of a strong house to survive,” Annunzio said.

However, Sen. Michelle Martino said the sanctions levied by the university will help make Sigma Chi a “better and stronger house.”

The SA meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday in the student center’s Heritage Room.

Annunzio said it is “hard to judge” what action might be taken Sunday but that “senators would like to see the video to make a better judgment call.”

He said, however, that if senators feel strongly enough, they might pull Sigma Chi’s recognition even if the SA is unable to obtain a copy of the videotape.

Sen. Brian Holt said the senate will set a “terrible precedent” if the senate does not levy some sort of sanctions on Sigma Chi just because the university already has done so.

Annuzio said an invitation was extended to Sigma Chi and Delta Phi Epsilon to send representatives to answer questions at Sunday’s senate meeting.

However, Holt said invitations also were extended to the fraternity and the sorority to attend the past two SA Minority Relations Committee meetings, which the houses failed to attend.

SA Minority Relations Adviser Morenike Cheatom said she has heard two different stories about the skit, showing there is not a way to make the representatives from Sigma Chi and Delta Phi Epsilon tell the truth.

“This is the SA, not a court of law … people are out there to save their own asses,” she said.

Sen. Jim Ruzicka said that before final sanctions are made, the senate not only should look at the skit incident, but also any other incidents involving Sigma Chi for the past five years.

Swift and immediate action by the senate is necessary because of the racial stigma NIU has, Ruzicka said. “It is not fair to say the majority of the students on this campus are racist.”

Holt said the possibility of sanctioning Delta Phi Epsilon should be considered also because the skit appeared during a philanthropic fundraiser sponsored by the sorority.

Chaetom said there is “feedback” that Sigma Chi recognition will not be removed because the senate is predominantly greek.

However, Sen. Gary Stittgen said people who believe the recognition will not be removed because of the greek senators “are underestimating the integrity of the senate.”