The Interfraternity Council Formal Conduct Board suspended Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity on Thursday for hazing, conduct dangerous to the health of university community members and failure to comply with authorized directives of a student judicial body. The violation was the chapter’s second violation of hazing and new member education policies this semester.
“There is no place for hazing in our community, and chapters that refuse to change negative traditions are hurting their members, chapter and our community,” Director of Greek Life Kristin Torrey wrote in an e-mail Sunday night.
The first sanction was on March 3 from the IFC Judicial Team, but other incidents occurred after the sanction.
“Given the extensive disciplinary history of Phi Kappa Sigma and the severity of the three charges against them, the IFC Formal Conduct Board determined that it was in the best interest of the fraternity in the long term for the chapter to be suspended until fall 2012,” Torrey wrote.
“I am obviously disappointed by the decision, but I understand the reason it was levied upon the fraternity. Phi Kappa Sigma claimed full responsibility for its violations of the hazing policies,” said senior Dan Taylor, former president of the organization.
Currently, decisions have not been made for future use of the facility. Residents moved out this weekend, and the house will remain closed for the rest of the semester. After the sanction was given on Thursday, the house was extensively damaged. Items were broken inside the house and thrown from the balcony. Many walls were covered with graffiti, and a couch was lit on fire on the front porch, which caused fire spots inside the house as well.
“While we can understand that members of the chapter are disappointed and upset by the suspension decision, this behavior was completely unacceptable and may impact the future for the fraternity and the facility,” Torrey wrote.
The six residents of the house have been relocated to rooms in Kissam Quadrangle.
“I am extremely upset that the actions of the fraternity as an organization resulted in the transfer of the individual house residents to Kissam; some, including myself, for the remainder of their senior years and Vanderbilt careers,” Taylor said.
“While we do not want the Greek community to lose more chapters, it is sometimes a necessary part of the fraternity life cycle. Many of our chapters have been suspended for a period of time during their existence at Vanderbilt, and they have all come back stronger,” Torrey wrote.
