Shutterstock
West Virginia University has banned five fraternities from the school’s campus for at least a decade.
According to a statement from the university that was released on Thursday, September 27, the Alpha Sigma Phi, Kappa Alpha Order, Phi Sigma Kappa, Sigma Chi and Theta Chi fraternities wrote letters of intent to disassociate from the school back in August.
The fraternities reportedly chose to disassociate because the organizations have been upset by regulations implemented over the last three years, primarily a ban on recruiting first semester freshmen.
West Virginia University says that as a result of disassociating, the fraternities can no longer participate in university-sanctioned activities such as Greek Week and intramurals.
Furthermore, the five fraternities are no longer eligible for grants from the college and cannot use the Mountaineers logo for anything pertaining to the fraternity.
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.
