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Ohio State University has suspended two separate fraternities for code of conduct violations. The university suspended Alpha Epsilon Pi and Sigma Alpha Mu on Friday, May 25, after the fraternities were found to have violated the alcohol, hazing and endangering behavior and failure to comply with earlier sanctions sections of the code of student conduct.
According to statements from Dave Isaacs, a spokesman for the Office of Student Life, both fraternities will not be able to petition for reinstatement until 2023. Alpha Epsilon Pi, commonly known as AEPi, was originally placed on cease and desist status since November 8, 2017, and was placed on probation and educational sanctions on January 8, 2018. In addition, Sigma Alpha Mu was the subject of two conduct cases in 2017, with the fraternity previously being suspended for two years in 2013.
Both fraternities will be given five days to appeal their suspension.
via Dispatch:
Both houses were among the 11 fraternities Ohio State said in November were under investigation when the university suspended “all social, recruitment and new member activities” at all 37 fraternities governed by its Interfraternity Council for violations, most involving hazing and alcohol use.
Members of houses suspended Friday received letters from the university that offered a five-day window to appeal the suspension and also support, including ways to find new housing.
No one from Sigma Alpha Mu or Alpha Epsilon Pi’s national headquarters, both based in Indianapolis, was available to comment Friday afternoon. Details on what fraternity members did to get suspended will be released by the university in the near future, said Dave Isaacs, spokesman for the Office of Student Life.
This is the latest major fraternity or sorority suspension or closure in the last year, 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.