While still early in the legal process, the pending litigation awaits formal responses, or answers, from most listed defendants. “The school tells them to stop it, and they didn’t stop. Leventhal did not respond to request for comment. The complaint detailed all that happens behind closed doors while pledges, often college freshmen like Leventhal, are put through extreme tests. A complaint accuses the Lambda-Epsilon chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity of hazing pledges. Reach the reporters at eborst@asu.edu and follow @ellieeborstt on Twitter. Lambda Kappa Sigma Statement on Hazing Approved 11/12/14 1 Hazing may be defined as any situation created or action taken, regardless of intent, to produce physical or mental discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule, to cause physical harm or injury, or any activity on the part of the new members or active members which may violate ... who was a Kappa Sigma pledge. Kappa Sigma is focused on the four pillars of FELLOWSHIP, LEADERSHIP, SCHOLARSHIP and SERVICE. Designated Partner; President; Internal Documents; Activities. As of Jan. 21, only one answer was reported to have been filed from one of the defendants. The organization currently has 122 active members, with 16 new members this semester. Kappa Sigma Fraternity was one of the three organizations found responsible for hazing after allegations were made last spring. Pledge educator Dylan Sproul, the person "in charge of the hazing," was removed from his position as a result of his severe hazing, but he continued to serve in his position "through proxies" for the rest of the semester, the complaint said. It’s that simple. The fraternities include Phi Sigma Kappa, Phi Delta Theta, Chi Phi, Alpha Epsilon Pi, and Phi Kappa Tau. Get the best of State Press delivered straight to your inbox. A mother has the right to sue fraternity members for their role in the 2016 hazing-related death of her UL son, an appellate court ruled. Phi Kappa Tau and Sigma Alpha Epsilon were also suspended following additional allegations of hazing and alcohol violations respectively. He was only allowed to leave for class, which was "nearly impossible" given his "physical deteriorated condition," the complaint said. Phi Kappa Tau and Sigma Alpha Epsilon were also suspended following additional allegations of hazing and alcohol violations respectively. Kappa Sigma Durango stands by a complete no tolerance policy on hazing and would respond with an immediate internal response to those involved, Elliot said. The new allegations of hazing, which led to the fraternity’s initial suspension on Oct. 1, proved to be the breaking point for Phi Kappa Tau’s national office. “There were just more reports that were concerning,” Amy Hecht, vice president of student affairs said. ASU's Kappa Sigma fraternity chapter has been suspended since October following a September lawsuit regarding its hazing process for pledges, or potential members, a University spokesperson confirmed this week. The students decided to violate the agreement which left us with no other choice. Of the 28 individuals listed in the amended complaint, three have already been dismissed. Kappa Sigma (ΚΣ), commonly known as Kappa Sig, is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at the University of Virginia in 1869. The Board of Governors is expected to approve President Thrasher's reappointment. Beta Theta Pi, Carnegie Mellon University. In the 2017-18 school year, Kappa Sigma at ASU had 133 members, according to the latest Annual Greek Report breakdown on the University's website. The courtyard for the Greek Leadership Village on the ASU Tempe campus is pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. The LSU Police Department’s daily crime log shows the complaint made against Kappa Sigma is “unfounded.” The other complaint, made against Phi Kappa Psi, is still listed as active. Hazers said they tracked and monitored the pledges' locations — and should a fraternity member have found a pledge sleeping on campus — there would be punishment and more severe hazing, the complaint said. Fraternity members and pledges are sometimes subject to the rules and practices handed down by leadership both in house and on a national level. In 2017, trustees unanimously agreed in favor of a 1-year extension of Thrasher’s contract through November 2020. This status prohibits hosting events with alcohol. “What more can they [FSU administration] do without starting to ruin some people’s freedom to run their organization how they want,” said an anonymous graduate student. Founded in 1869 at the University of Virginia, Kappa Sigma International Headquarters is based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Investments in construction of medical treatment and preventive care institutions Hazing itself or conduct which represents hazing is against the law in all jurisdictions in which Kappa Sigma has chapters. The students in Phi Kappa Tau made the decision to continue to create an unsafe environment.". One incident, where pledges were forced to smoke marijuana and tobacco out of a bong, took place in front of a church. By Janet Dake — Amid hazing allegations and a university investigation, U of L confirmed Kappa Sigma fraternity is on an interim suspension. He had severe damage to his pancreas, resulting in diabetes, according to the lawsuit. I’ve heard horror stories from friends that are currently involved in Greek life, and what’s described is nothing less than assault.”, “They [fraternities] didn’t listen,” said an SGA member who wished to remain anonymous. FSU now forces students considering pledging to greek organizations to engage in seminars and workshops that provide insight into hazing related activities, alcohol consumption, drug abuse and assault. There are just 11 fraternities left that are able to host tailgates and engage in regularly-scheduled events and activities this semester, according to a document released by the IFC. According to Kappa Sigma’s Organizational Scorecard, the fraternity’s current recognition has been set to Restricted Status, with its current standing with headquarters being set to Suspension of Operations. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The meat lodged in Swanson's throat, and he began choking. Student contributors threw around their own ideas for what FSU could do to help fight hazing, especially in frats that have a reputation around campus for putting pledges in danger. Kappa Sigma hazing related deaths can be traced back to the 1940’s, according to Hank Nuwer, a journalist known for bringing attention to hazing incidents. “So I mean honestly, they just need to go for everyone and be like ‘this is not tolerated’.”. Most notably, FSU President John Thrasher has yet to make any personal statement of his own regarding the fraternity suspensions and related investigations. Following hell week, Leventhal was hospitalized. Kappa Sigma pledges were forced to put a combination of different hot sauces, or pickles marinated in hot sauce, in their underwear, run over three miles, assume a plank-like position with only elbows and toes on the ground over 500 times and eat M&M's off a floor on which people had vomited, urinated and defecated, according to the civil complaint filed in the Maricopa County superior court. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Phi Kappa Tau began the fall semester with strict guidelines issued by the Office of Student Affairs after the chapter and national office admitted to violations in the spring which included possession of alcohol by persons under 21, hazing, holding an “open party” and failing to act against endangering the health or safety of a person or group. represented the mother of the 19-year-old, ASU men's basketball blows out Washington by 33 points, Insight: Rediscovering my love for reading has brought me happiness, ASU men's tennis' senior class propels program's success, Graduate student-led study finds new information about how galaxies grow, Opinión: Unas cuantas manzanas podridas arruinan el racimo, Opinión: La sociedad necesita dejar de sexualizar a las mujeres latinas, ASU continúa la tendencia a la baja de COVID-19 mientras EEUU supera 500.000 muertes, ASU continues downward COVID-19 trends as US surpasses 500,000 deaths, ASU Community Collaborative continues to help Westward Ho residents, Los casos activos de COVID-19 en la comunidad continúan disminuyendo. Now that Phi Kappa Tau is no longer a recognized fraternity at FSU, five Interfraternity Council organizations have been dismissed or suspended since 2018. 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. Kappa Sigma's ASU current chapter president and Sproul did not respond to requests for comment. All rights reserved. It’s only effective if you take that information to heart.”. About us; Management. This is not the first fraternity-involved lawsuit McGroder has been a part of. Its endowment fund, founded in 1919, has donated more than $5 million to undergrads since 1948. “We tried to save them. When he did sleep, it was outside on rocks wearing nothing but a sweatshirt, the lawsuit said. Leventhal's attorney, Pat McGroder III, said he will not comment on pending litigation. It was that simple.”. The complaint detailed all that happens behind closed doors while pledges, often college freshmen like Leventhal, are put through extreme tests. Kappa Sigma is focused upon the Four Pillars of Fellowship, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service. The fraternity brothers did not tell police and ambulance workers about the hazing ritual, and instead attributed Swanson's respiratory distress to a "nervous spasm". The following week, he was diagnosed with diabetes. UL President Joseph Savoie is a Kappa Sigma alum. Some said that they didn’t know where to report it if they even saw it happening. The chapter may still be charged with violations stemming from the FSU Student Organization Conduct Code, and individual members may be charged by FSU as well despite the revocation of the fraternity’s charter. Once the answers are collected, both the defendants and the plaintiff will file disclosure statements, which contain factual allegations, legal theories upon which the factual allegations will be judged and disclosure of liability issues, causation issues and damage issues. Hazing is contrary to the principles and teachings of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. We view any hazing activity as a breakdown in leadership, courage, intellect, character, and the ability to think critically and independently. Each day he had just five minutes to chug an entire bottle of tequila. Pledges were forced to dive for a 20-pound brick and tread water for long periods of time in a freezing pool while fully clothed, in which Leventhal "could barely breathe and nearly drowned," the complaint said. Marquise Braham was 19 and a student at the university's Altoona campus when he leapt from the roof of a New York area parking garage last year, soon after resident advisers at the college told supervisors the youth appeared to be suffering a breakdown as a result of hazing by Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, according to the complaint. Membership in Kappa Sigma is a privilege. Christian Leventhal, a communications student and former Kappa Sigma pledge, and his parents filed the complaint last fall detailing the severe hazing done by the fraternity's collegiate members. The revelation comes after three other fraternities were suspended earlier this month, beginning with Delta Tau Delta’s hazing allegations which prompted an investigation with FSUPD. can't help lovin' that blue and blue. Many believe that Greek life in general, including fraternities and sororities alike, is outdated and not as closely scrutinized when breaking the rules as other RSOs. “The staff and alumni advisors in collaboration with the undergraduate leadership and university worked to develop an action plan to address several concerns that needed attention,” CEO Tim Hudson said in announcing the shutdown. Christian Leventhal, a communications student and former Kappa Sigma pledge, and his parents filed the complaint last fall detailing the severe hazing done by the fraternity's collegiate members. Both Booth and Elliot would like to get recognition from the school, but right now it’s not looking like a reality, Booth said. Each member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity is responsible for seeing that he: ‣ … During "hell week," the culmination of hazing that took place daily from midnight to 7 a.m., Leventhal slept only three hours over four days. He had to clean fraternity members' houses while also "having eggs, butter, flour, water, mayonnaise, sriracha or flour with water poured on him or thrown in his face," according to the complaint. Leventhal and his parents are suing Kappa Sigma national fraternity, its ASU chapter and 28 individuals on 10 separate counts, including gross negligence, false imprisonment and punitive damages. Kappa Sigma is the largest college social fraternity in the world with more than 200,000 living members, including over 17,000 undergraduates and 305 chapters and colonies located throughout the United States and Canada. All four fraternities, including Delta Tau Delta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, and Phi Kappa Tau are all under interim restricted status suspensions pending investigation by the university. Many were reluctant on recording to say whether or not they had witnessed hazing and couldn't determine the threshold at which they would be willing to report hazing-like activity. Beta Theta Pi is one of the oldest fraternities in America, … 951 likes. Kappa Sigma’s Supreme Executive Committee closed its Ohio State chapter July 8, 2020, for violating the fraternity’s code of conduct, according to the press release. Conduct which represents hazing shall under no circumstances be within the duties or obligations of a member of Kappa Sigma. Listed in the complaint were four houses in which the hazing occurred, and all four houses had Tempe police called on them sometime between July 2017 and October 2020 for various reasons such as welfare checks, loud parties and criminal and liquor law violations, the complaint said. He was forced to medically withdraw for a semester and his education was set back a year. "[Kappa Sigma], appealed their sanctions (from the spring semester) to the appellate body of the student life committee and the appeal was heard," Hirst said. He also suffered chipped teeth, "dangerously severe weight loss" and a disease caused by fungus called thrush, the lawsuit said. the friendships we make will ever be dear. Continue supporting student journalism and donate to The State Press today. According to the police report on Nov. 18, Sillas told police that he wanted to move forward in pressing charges. “It’s only as effective as people want it to be. Leventhal also had to drive while fraternity members and alumni covered his eyes, eat 15 onions in a single sitting, eat raw or infected fish with its scales still on, break milk cartons in a grocery store and sit shirtless and blindfolded with 30 others in a small, hot shed with someone guarding the door, according to the complaint.