Kappa Sigma loses charter for hazing

As a result of “egregious hazing” in late March, according to the Associate Director of Programs and Educational Services at the University Student Commons Carolyn Whittier, Kappa Sigma fraternity has had both their national and university charters revoked.

The details of the hazing as of yet are unclear, but the incident was serious enough that a student spent four days at VCU Medical Center following a camping trip that took place in Essex County, Va.

Whittier said after the camping trip the student returned to his family home in the Richmond area, and then went to the hospital.

Whittier said she is not allowed to divulge details of the incident both in order to protect the student’s privacy and because it is a matter of the Judicial Board of the Interfraternity Council. The council is one of four organizations that all VCU fraternities answer to, and it declined to comment on the ruling.

Rumors have been circulating about what happened during the hazing, and the extent of the student’s injuries. At the time of the incident Kappa Sigma had 37 initiated members and four new members.

According to a May 28 e-mail from Whittier, the Lambda Zeta chapter of Kappa Sigma had their charter revoked by the national fraternity on April 30. VCU revoked their charter 24 hours later.

“The chapter was closed by the organization for violations of our code of conduct,” said Mitchell Wilson, the executive director of the national Kappa Sigma organization.

Under the national organization’s protocol, the VCU chapter will be allowed to recolonize after seven years in 2016.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy on hazing,” Wilson said.

This semester each fraternity and sorority council plans to host a meeting to discuss hazing, according to Whittier’s e-mail.

Former fraternity members did not respond to e-mails.

If you have any further information about the aforementioned situation, please contact Rich Griset at news@commonwealthtimes.com