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Phi Kappa Psi at Ohio State University has been suspended four years due to hazing. According to the university, the fraternity has been suspended until August 2022 after an investigation by Student Life’s department of Student Conduct found that the fraternity was violating the Code of Student Conduct.
A statement from the university said that the fraternity was investigated twice for code of conduct violations during the 2017-18 school year. The chapter was placed on Cease & Desist in November 2017 and was placed on a two-year probation for violations including hazing, endangering behavior, and alcohol in March 2018.
The members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity were informed of the suspension on in late June and were given several days to appeal the suspension. OSU said that the fraternity may petition the Office of Student Life to return to campus when their suspension is over in 2022.
The Phi Kappa Psi chapter was one of 11 fraternities under investigation in November 2017 when Ohio State imposed a temporary blanket suspension on all 37 of its fraternities.
This is the latest major fraternity or sorority suspension or closure in the last year, as schools such as Indiana University, the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Texas State, Florida State, Ball State, Louisiana State and Penn State have all suspended fraternities in the wake of hazing and alcohol deaths.
These reports come amidst similar allegations that have been made against fraternities nationwide, including Sigma Alpha Epsilon at East Carolina University, who were shut down for hazing and the Lamda Chi Alpha chapter at the University of Arkansas which has been accused of taking sexually explicit photographs of women without their permission.
In response to incidents like these, fraternities such Phi Kappa Psi have made numerous changes to their code of conduct in an effort to address the issues that have arisen. In addition, schools such as Texas State have introduced new Greek Life rules to try and prevent these problems.
