Three Fraternities, Two Sororities Under Investigation -- George Washington U.

[exlurker]

Three fraternities and two sororities are “under investigation” by George Washington U; two of the chapters are “currently suspended” by their natioanl HQs, according to the campus paper's report at:

http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media...-3957427.shtml

Excerpts from the fairly long article:

An unprecedented five Greek-letter organizations are under investigation by the University, but officials are releasing few details about the nature of the allegations against the chapters.

Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Delta Gamma, and Kappa Kappa Gamma are all under investigation for allegations of hazing, Assistant Dean . . . and Director of Student Judicial Services Tara Pereira said. Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Phi Epsilon are currently suspended by their national organizations through the investigations' completion, and could possibly last longer depending on what the investigations yield.

The "interim suspension of recognition" for Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Phi Epsilon means neither chapter is permitted to conduct any operations, including membership meetings, philanthropy events or mixers, Pereira said. . . .

Pi Kappa Phi is also under investigation by the University. Pereira would not elaborate on what the fraternity is under investigation for, but said the allegations are not related to hazing. A representative for Pi Kappa Phi confirmed the national organization is working with GW but declined to share the nature of investigation.

The Hatchet first reported that Kappa Kappa Gamma was under investigation for allegations of hazing and underage drinking last month, and Pereira said no final decisions about the sorority have been made, and that the University is still in a fact-finding phase into the alleged incidents.

. . . Pereira said the bulk of the allegations have not come from chapter-on-chapter tattling, but rather from other students, parents and concerned members of the GW community coming forward.

"The lion's share of the information that I am most concerned about was not received from other chapters about other chapters," she said.

. . . She added that the University is collaborating with each of the chapter's national organizations in order to conduct the investigations.
Pereira said she expects the investigations of the five chapters to take about three to four weeks each to complete . . . .

All five of the chapters under investigation have been Gold Award finalists for the Student Activities Center's Chapter of the Year Awards within the last two years, meaning they were recognized for being among the top Greek-letter life chapters at GW.

Megan Lloyd, communications specialist for Delta Gamma's national organization, said the organization is aware of the concerns and is working with the University. A representative from Pi Kappa Phi's national organization would not comment on the allegations except to say they were not related to hazing.

Logan Reynolds, Pi Kappa Alpha's national director of services, said they are working with their fraternity members and with the University to figure out how to move forward once all evidence has been gathered.

Sigma Phi Epsilon Regional Director Joshua Hodnichak said the national organization placed the chapter under "cease and desist," an order to cease operations pending the investigation's conclusion.

Beth Black, Kappa Kappa Gamma's national vice president, previously told The Hatchet that Kappa Kappa Gamma has a strong stance against hazing and was working with University officials during the investigation. Black did not return repeated requests for comment for this story. . . .

ETA: Related earlier GC posts about one of the investigations at GWU are at

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=116742

[thetaj]

Yikes Such a prestigious school, too.

[AZTheta]

It can happen to any chapter, at any school, any time, any where. Remember that. Also important to note: allegations, not convictions.

[exlurker]

Update Jan. 18, 2011: Formal charges against Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Phi Epsilon re: hazing and alcohol violations

http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media...-3968971.shtml

Excerpts from ^:

Three Greek-life chapters were formally charged with counts of hazing, providing alcohol to minors and underage consumption of alcohol, a University official confirmed Sunday night, moving the months-long controversy one step closer to completion.

Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Phi Epsilon were all issued letters outlining the violations of the Student Code of Conduct the University believes have occurred, Assistant Dean of Students . . . Tara Pereira said.
All three chapters now face a decision of whether or not to plead "in violation" or "not in violation" to the charges.

No punishments . . . will be determined until after Wednesday, when chapter presidents are required to determine how they want to proceed. Presidents can decide whether or not to have a full SJS hearing, or plead guilty to the charges - moving them directly to a sentencing process.
"It is in their hands to make these decisions," Pereira said, adding that after Wednesday, a better timeline for potential sanctions will emerge. . . .

[exlurker]

Update Jan. 27, 2011: Probation, Sanctions, Loss of Townhouses at GWU: KKG, Pike, Sig Ep

http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media...-3971265.shtml

Excerpts from much longer article ^:

Three Greek-life chapters each pled guilty to charges of hazing, providing alcohol to minors and underage consumption of alcohol, and will lose their townhouses on the prestigious Townhouse Row at the end of the semester, a University official confirmed Wednesday night.

Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Phi Epsilon must vacate their University-owned townhouses in May and have been placed on social and disciplinary probation until December 2012, Assistant Dean of Students . . . Tara Pereira said.

. . . social probation prohibits these organizations from having alcohol at their events, but does not stop them from recruiting new members, or partaking in other Greek-life events, like philanthropy or intramural athletics. Disciplinary probation affects each chapter's standing within the Greek-life community.

. . . administrators still declined to comment on the activities that led to the investigations and subsequent charges. . . .

. . . Kappa Kappa Gamma President Bianca Timiraos did not return multiple requests for comment. Kappa Kappa Gamma's National Vice President Beth Black said her organization takes the issues very seriously and is working with the chapter to "reaffirm Kappa's longstanding commitment to values-based education and leadership." . . .

Related article deals with Sigma Phi Epsilon’s “membership review”:

http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media...-3971251.shtml

Excerpts from ^:
As the University investigated and ultimately charged Sigma Phi Epsilon with hazing, about 30 representatives from the fraternity's national organization conducted "membership reviews" with each member of the chapter, suspending those who declined to participate and making recommendations about those who did not mesh with the fraternity's ideals.
The interviews, which occurred two weeks ago, took an entire day as the representatives - part of the fraternity's alumni advisory board - met with all those who agreed to participate, a fraternity member familiar with the process said. About two or three alumni met with each member for discussions that lasted about 15 minutes.
An exact number of members who have left or been suspended as a result of these interviews is not known, although someone close to the process estimated it was three freshmen, one sophomore and 10 juniors. He added that eight seniors opted to apply for alumni status a semester early.
. . . The member interviewed said the one person directly involved in the hazing was expelled from the organization.
. . . Those who did not interview have been suspended, although they may still petition for alumni status upon graduation - something they would not be permitted to do if they were permanently expelled from the fraternity.
Sigma Phi Epsilon President Adam Kelsey declined to comment on current membership numbers.
. . . Neither Sigma Phi Epsilon's national organization nor Greek Life Director Christina Witkowicki responded to requests for comment.