BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Another fraternity at LSU is under suspension following an investigation into hazing and violations of public health protocols, including hosting an off-campus party for about 300 people last fall and the “alcohol medical transport of a student” from a rush week party.
The associate dean of student advocacy and accountability, Jonathan Sanders, sent a letter to the university's chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity outlining the alleged violations that led to the Jan. 15 interim suspension, multiple news agencies reported.
Sanders wrote that LSU discovered additional violations while drafting a corrective plan for the fraternity, including allegations of hazing and an unapproved party in the fall where alcohol was available to underage students. Pledges were allegedly hazed through sleep deprivation, and were made to serve as bartenders.
The fraternity is required to meet with a Student Advocacy and Accountability hearing officer on April 8.
“Kappa Sigma has high expectations of its members,” the fraternity's national advisory board chairman Robbie Mahtook said in a statement. “We intend to fully investigate these allegations and, if the evidence proves the allegations to be true, hold the chapter or individuals accountable. We look forward to working with the university to continue Kappa Sigma’s long presence and contribution to campus.”
LSU fraternities have been under scrutiny after hazing-related deaths.
Max Gruver, of Roswell, Georgia, had been a student at LSU for just a month in 2017 when he died of alcohol poisoning and aspiration after a hazing ritual at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house. Ten current or former students were arrested and Phi Delta Theta was banned from campus until at least 2033.
LSU police also arrested a Phi Kappa Psi fraternity member in November on counts of felony and misdemeanor criminal hazing, along with failure to seek assistance, after an October party led to a freshman being hospitalized with severe alcohol poisoning. Phi Kappa Psi also has been suspended.
