Penn State Sorority Suspended for at Least 3 Years After Hazing Allegations

A sorority chapter at Penn State has been closed by its national organization and banned from the university for at least three years following an investigation into hazing allegations.

Alpha Chi Omega has revoked the charter of its Penn State chapter until at least the spring of 2021 and the university will revoke its recognition of the chapter for that time as well after the Office of Student Conduct received a report in late January of new member hazing that allegedly occurred in the fall of 2016.

The new member process for the chapter was immediately suspended as the student conduct office began an investigation.

‘The investigation uncovered concerning behaviors that were communicated to the national organization,’ a university statement said.

Alpha Chi Omega’s national organization was notified and conducted its own investigation, after which it immediately closed the chapter.

“Upon learning of the highly disturbing allegations of hazing, Alpha Chi Omega deployed a team of professional staff members and volunteers to the campus to investigate further,’ the national organization said in a statement. ‘Regrettably, our internal inquiry has led our National Council to determine that the allegations are credible and warrant the immediate closure of our chapter at Penn State.”

Individual students involved will go through the university’s disciplinary process.

Apha Chi Omega the only Penn State sorority to be suspended since Beta Theta Pi fraternity pledge Tim Piazza’s hazing death in February 2017. Twelve fraternities under the Interfraternity Council umbrella are currently suspended.  

The Lehigh University chapter of Alpha Chi Omega lost its recognition after an investigation into a road rally scavenger hunt involving ‘sexual activity, the use of drugs and alcohol, ingesting food and other liquids.’

The national Alpha Chi Omega said it will cooperate fully with the Penn State’s investigation and reiterated that behaviors like hazing will not be tolerated by the national organization on any campus at any time.

“Safety is and will remain the top priority. We applaud the national organization for taking the necessary action and partnering with us,” Penn State Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims said in the release. “It is imperative to note that the university and the national would not have been able to hold individuals or the collective group accountable if a report had not been made.”

The sorority said it plans to work with the university to ensure student needs like housing are met for the rest of the semester.

“Alpha Chi Omega has been a vital member of the Penn State community for many years and looks forward to the opportunity to return to campus in the future,” the organization said in its release.

Penn State, meanwhile, has implemented numerous new measures in the past year to reform fraternity and sorority life. They include restrictions on alcohol use and social events, changes to new member recruitment, new education programs and the addition of staff for oversight. The university also took control of the previously self-governed misconduct process for Greek life.