Members of UNC's Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity did themselves no favors in dispelling the unflattering and stereotypical frat boy image by engaging in a series of unfortunate events since the beginning of the school year. The university has now leveled sanctions against the Greek organization.

The DKEs are the band of brothers that were led by fraternity president Courtland Benjamin Smith. He is the UNC student who was fatally shot in a bizarre showdown with Archdale police after Smith told emergency dispatchers that he was intoxicated, had a handgun and was intent on killing himself. He had been at a party at the DKE house hours earlier.

Though there has been no link established between the party and Smith's death, the rowdy social function was subject of the sanctions placed on the fraternity by the student-run Greek Judicial Board. A number of alcohol-related rules were broken at that party. Amazingly, at a time when the fraternity should have been in mourning over Smith's death and treading lightly because it was under investigation for the party it held prior to their president's death, the DKEs racked up two more violations.

Among other sanctions, the fraternity will be on social probation for a year and its activities will be more tightly regulated and closely monitored by the university.

The DKE members should accept their punishment and earnestly set about cleaning up their act. If they truly want to honor the memory of their slain president, they will knock off the potentially dangerous antics and do a yeoman's job with the 500 community service hours to which they were ordered to build a Courtland Benjamin Smith Habitat for Humanity House with money from their 2009-10 social budget.