The Office of Greek life has placed Vanderbilt’s chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity under interim suspension pending the results of an investigation into an off-campus party that resulted in the arrest of four fraternity members Sunday morning.
“The university is aware of an incident involving members of Kappa Sigma Fraternity on early Sunday morning, though we are still determining the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Director of Greek Life Kristin Torrey said in a statement made to The Hustler.
Metropolitan Nashville Police arrested seniors Scott Campbell, Brett Miner, James Weaver and Patrick Farha early Sunday morning after officers found evidence that they had provided alcohol to 12 underage Vanderbilt students at their 1909 Convent Place residence.
All four arrested individuals are named on the lease for the residence.
Officers responded to the residence after a neighbor made a noise complaint to Metro Police, according to the arrest affidavit. When police entered the home, they found evidence of binge drinking, including beer cans, kegs, liquor bottles and alcohol games.
“The underage individuals were all obviously in an intoxicated state,” the affidavit read.
According to the arrest affidavit, the cell phones, wallets and Vanderbilt student ID cards of the underage students had been collected by the four Kappa Sigma members and placed in a plastic garbage bag.
“When police asked for these items from the underage individuals, they stated that they did not know where the items were. Police had to ask Mr. Farha and the other lesees (sic) multiple times for the items belonging to the underage individuals. Finally, one of the lesees (sic) produced a plastic garbage bag with the underage individuals’ belongings,” the affidavit read.
Inter-fraternity Council President Patrick Seamens declined to comment on the ongoing investigation but did discuss the IFC alcohol policy.
“As [with] the entire pledging process, bid night should not include alcohol in any way, shape or form,” Seamens wrote in an email to The Hustler.
Nick Eisen-Berkeley, the president of Vanderbilt’s chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, declined to comment. The Hustler sent an email to all four arrested individuals for comment yesterday at 4:49 in the afternoon. As of 11:55 p.m., none of the four arrested individuals have responded.
The Kappa Chapter of Kappa Sigma was founded at Vanderbilt in 1877. According to the fraternity’s website, Kappa Sigma is focused upon the Four Pillars of fellowship, leadership, scholarship and service.
“As a values-based men’s fraternity, Kappa Sigma strictly forbids hazing and fosters meaningful college experiences by offering progressive membership development and pledge education,” the website reads.
