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The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at the University of Southern California was placed on interim suspension on Wednesday, October 24, due to allegations of drug use.
According to a statement from the USC Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development website, Pi Kappa Alpha — commonly referred to as Pike — is the fifth fraternity at USC to be suspended this year.
In addition to Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Mu, Phi Kappa Sigma, Alpha Epsilon Pi, and Pi Kappa Phi have also faced interim suspensions due to hazing allegations.
As a result of their suspension, Pi Kappa Alpha has been banned from all chapter operations, including hosting social events.
Pi Kappa Alpha and the Interfraternity Council declined to comment and directed the Daily Trojan to the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development, which also declined to comment.
On Oct. 18, Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity, which was also placed on interim suspension for alleged hazing, filed a lawsuit against USC stating the University violated California law and University policy.
Phi Sigma Kappa president Bradley Billig said the University refused to notify the fraternity of the specific events that are put under investigation. The fraternity will appear in court on Dec. 7.
“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,” USC said in a statement to the Daily Trojan on Oct. 18.
The suspension comes about four months after five Greek life organizations — Sigma Chi, Beta Theta Pi, Theta Xi, and Tau Kappa Epsilon- and one sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta — sued the University of Southern California for what they perceive as a violation of their first amendment rights.
The suspension of Pi Kappa Alpha at the University of Southern California 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, Wake Forest University, Ohio State University, Texas State, Florida State, Ball State, Louisiana State University, 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.
