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West Virginia University has announced their suggestions to issues they found after they conducted a review of its fraternity and sorority system.
A committee established by WVU’s Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life reviewed each chapter in the university’s academic, disciplinary, and community engagement and came up with an appropriate “action plan” to “better align each organization with the university’s mission.”
The committee presented its recommendations regarding each chapter’s status to the Dean of Students Corey Farris, who approved the recommendations, which were accepted by President Gordon Gee and Provost Joyce McConnell.
According to reports, the Phi Sigma Kappa, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Mu, and Phi Gamma Delta fraternities have temporarily lost recognition as a student organization.
Matthew Richardson, director of the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life, released the following statement:
“President Gee challenged us to be bold. He wants us to be fair and equitable in our approach to fraternity and sorority engagement, and I feel confident that we are set up for success in light of the Reaching the Summit recognition review. Transparency is key, and we intend to publish all relevant information regarding our chapters to our website for students, parents, and families to see. This will include academic and judicial histories on our campus.”
This is the latest major Greek Life overhaul in the last couple of years, 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.
