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The Theta Chi fraternity chapter at West Virginia University announced on Sunday, September 23, that they would be disassociating from the school.
According to the statement from the fraternity’s national office, the decision to disassociate was made due to West Virginia University’s continued restrictions on first semester students joining fraternities.
The statement claims that the restrictions singles out Greek life organizations and are not applied to other student organizations or teams.
The Theta Chi fraternity says there is no research to suggest that delayed recruitment addresses any of the challenges WVU has cited as the rationale for such restrictions.
The Alpha Kappa Chapter of the Theta Chi fraternity is now the fourth WVU fraternity to disassociate, following Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, and Phi Sigma Kappa.
“The Fraternity urges WVU administrators to cease verbal attacks and intimidation of students and organizations who have taken principled stand against restrictions on the timing of fraternity recruitment,” the fraternity’s statement read.
Theta Chi’s office said the fraternity will be an “active participant in the formation of an independent Interfraternity Council” in Morgantown.
This is the latest major fraternity or sorority lawsuit, investigation, 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 was shut down for hazing and the Lambda 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, West Virginia University, and Penn State University have introduced new Greek Life rules to try and prevent these problems.
