NYLON – The family of SUNY Geneseo student Alex Davis, 20, was able to establish a scholarship in their son's name and make large donations to two non-profits as the result of a golf tournament in the Victor, NY community. According to a press release from family spokesperson Heather Halsted, the Davis family and tournament sponsor American Legion James Cooke Post 931 of Victor invited golfers to “Play the Game” in Alex's honor on Sunday June … [Read more...]
DA: PHIG Brothers Plead Guilty to Tampering
GENESEO – Phi Sigma Xi (Phigs) fraternity brothers Rich Rovner and Michael Green pled guilty to misdemeanors and were sentenced to community service and to pay a fine, a crime which District Attorney Greg McCaffrey said entailed removing drug paraphernalia from a fraternity brother's unresponsive body back in May of 2014. Rovner, 23, of Buffalo, and Green, 21, of Brooklyn, pled guilty to Attempted Tampering with Physical Evidence, an A … [Read more...]
SUNY Geneseo: Further Action Possible Against Suspended PHIG Fraternity
GENESEO – SUNY Geneseo has released the following statement on the anniversary of Phi Sigma Xi (PHIG) brother Alex Davis' death at the PHIG fraternity house at 72 Center Street, in light of the arrests of brothers Richard Rovner and Michael Green Tampering with Physical Evidence, an E Felony, and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree, an A misdemeanor, in connection to Davis' death: "Today is the one-year anniversary of the passing of Alex Davis. His … [Read more...]
PHIG Brothers Charged with Coverup of Davis’ Death
GENESEO – On Monday, May 4, Investigator Robert Fuller arrested Phi Sigma Xi (PHIGS) brothers Richard Rovner, 23, of Buffalo, and Michael Green, 20, Brooklyn, for Tampering with Physical Evidence, an E Felony, and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree, an A misdemeanor, at the PHIG house at 72 Center Street, in the Village of Geneseo, in connection with the death of Alex Davis, who died last May at the PHIG house. According to a press release from … [Read more...]
PHIG Fraternity Members to be Charged in Connection with Davis’ Death
GENESEO — Two members of the Phi Sigma Xi (PHIGS) SUNY Geneseo chapter were walked into a Geneseo courthouse in handcuffs in connection of the drug overdose death of fellow fraternity member Alex Davis. Today, exactly 1 year after Davis's death, PHIG members Richard Rovner and Michael Green were led into the Geneseo courthouse in handcuffs, to be charged in the case. Police were initially told by fraternity members that Davis had a … [Read more...]
FROM THE PUBLISHER: PHIG Parties are a Dead Serious Matter
This is serious. Dead serious. When Victor Lazarte, himself an underage teen, invited an underage girl to the Phi Sigma Xi or 'PHIG' fraternity's 'Date Night,' he had a responsibility. He had a responsibility to ensure that his date made it home safe. He failed miserably, and his actions, and those of others, almost cost a young woman her life. Now, most of us know that the PHIGS lost a brother, Alex Davis, 20, to a drug overdose in May … [Read more...]
Letter to the Editor: Students Split over “Disgraceful” ‘PHIGS’
A Monday editorial by GeneseeSun.com publisher Josh Williams stirred the emotions of many in the community, including SUNY Geneseo students and longtime neighbors to the PHIG fraternity house on Center Street. While we are not a public forum that regularly publishes the feelings of community members, the police investigations into alcohol poisoning on Feb. 21 and the arrest on Feb. 24 has some students in greek life coming forward with serious … [Read more...]
SUNY Geneseo Comes Down on ‘PHIGS’ with Suspension
GENESEO — SUNY Geneseo has announced that they are temporarily suspending the Phi Sigma Xi, ('PHIG') fraternity after member Victor Lazarte, 19, was arrested and charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child for allegedly providing alcohol to an underage girl until she had to be hospitalized for possible alcohol poisoning. According to a statement from David Irwin, Media Relations Director for SUNY Geneseo, effective immediately all social … [Read more...]
FROM THE PUBLISHER: Deadly Frat Has No Place in Geneseo
One dead student and a drug raid wasn't enough for the University to shut down the Phi Sigma Xi fraternity, but maybe now that an underage girl has been hospitalized as a result of one fraternity's illegal activity, the University will come to their senses. Shut down the fraternity. Phi Sigma Xi, or 'PHIG,' has a muddled history. The frat's house at 72 Center Street had a full-on drug raid resulting in multiple drug arrests in 2011, and the … [Read more...]
Geneseo Fraternity Death Ruled Result of Dangerous Drug Cocktail
GENESEO — The cause of death of a SUNY Geneseo PHIG fraternity member and lacrosse player has been released to the public. Alex Davis, 20, was discovered in his PHIG Fraternity house dead back in May of 2014 and until now the cause of death had yet to be released. Now the Monroe County Medical Examiner Office released that the cause of death was a result of the combined effects of cocaine and fentanyl. According to Geneseo Police Officials … [Read more...]