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Two fraternities at the University of Southern California have been put on suspension and are banned from hosting any social events while the school investigates alleged hazing violations.
According to USC’s Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development site, the Sigma Alpha Mu and Phi Sigma Kappa fraternities were placed on interim suspension on Friday, October 5, due to allegations of hazing.
Following the handing down of their suspensions, Sigma Alpha Mu and Phi Sigma Kappa were forced to cancel the parties they were planning to host that night.
Sigma Alpha Mu Vice President Matthew Parker told The Daily Trojan that a notice sent by the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Engagement Monique Allard cited violations of hazing regulations and health and safety codes as the reasons for the suspension.
The university also provided the following statement to The Daily Trojan:
“Organizations that are being investigated for alleged violations of the code of conduct can be instructed to suspend or modify social activities pending results of an investigation.”
The suspension of Sigma Alpha Mu and Phi Sigma Kappa at USC is the latest major fraternity or sorority lawsuit, investigation, 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 was shut down for hazing and the Lambda 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, West Virginia University, and Penn State University have introduced new Greek Life rules to try and prevent these problems.
