The University of Houston‘s Sigma Chi fraternity chapter has been suspended for four years. Here’s the formal announcement:
“After continued discussion with administrators from the University of Houston, the Executive Committee of Sigma Chi International Fraternity has decided to close its chapter there. The action follows the consideration of concerns regarding the health of the chapter, namely that its members were not living up to the high ideals of the organization. However, the Fraternity looks forward to maintaining a positive relationship with the University of Houston and to returning to campus after the summer of 2019.”
Technically, the Sigma Chi chapter has been on suspension since March but now the hammer has officially dropped.
Keep in mind that the 4 year suspension is the only thing we know for sure. Everything else from this point on is hearsay. But it’s still crazy to read.
If you believe the rumors on /r/frat, the U of Houston’s Sigma Chis were kicked off campus because of an investigation initiated by other Stephen F. Austin Sigma Chis who secretly recorded evidence and sent it to both the police and Nationals. That evidence? That the U of Houston brothers were waterboarding their pledges with alcohol.
Definitely a complicated situation, but if you’re going to haze your pledges with CIA techniques it’s probably best to do it in privacy. Or just, like, don’t do it at all.