Northwestern administrators will meet with Kappa Sigma representatives March 13 to discuss the consequences of a February incident involving the hospitalization of a new member during possible hazing involving alcohol, Greek officials said Monday.
For the last month, Greek Affairs has investigated Kappa Sig for possibly hazing pledges on the night of Feb. 1 during a fraternity-sponsored “pledge dad hunt,” said Elizabeth Kos, acting area coordinator for Greek Affairs. The heavily intoxicated recruit stayed overnight at Evanston Hospital.
“We met with the players that were involved and we all agreed on the facts,” Kos said. “Now we’re trying to determine what the best possible solution is.”
As a result of the Kappa Sig investigation, Interfraternity Council is implementing a hazing hotline and pledge educator classes next quarter, IFC President James Troupis said.
“We are in a precarious situation,” Troupis said. “On one hand you have a possible hazing violation, but as an institution of higher learning we should feel obligated to help Kappa Sigma learn and grow from the incident.”
Kappa Sigma President James Finley said his chapter abided by both NU’s and his national organization’s hazing policies. The incident was an unexpected part of the annual ritual, he said.
“I was surprised that one of our pledges went to the hospital,” said Finley, a McCormick senior.
Kos also said Greek Affairs still is investigating several sororities for possible involvement in Kappa Sig’s pledge dad hunt, an initiation ritual that many fraternities hold. The university does not expressly prohibit the event.
“Pledge dad hunts, according to our policy, are not a violation of the student handbook,” Kos said. “We discourage pledge dad hunts because most organizations cannot conduct them without violating another part of the hazing policy.”
The student handbook prohibits as hazing “wearing apparel that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, engaging in stunts and buffoonery, and requiring sleepovers or morally degrading or humiliating games or activities.”
The university derecognized Delta Kappa Epsilon last May after two of its new members were hospitalized during a hazing incident, but Kos said it is difficult to draw a comparison between the Kappa Sig investigation and DKE. Kappa Sig has no previous record of hazing, while DKE had been implicated in hazing rituals before last year. Kos also said the events of the Kappa Sig incident are completely different.
On Feb. 2, University Police and the Evanston fire department found a heavily intoxicated student in the lobby of Allison Hall at about 12:30 a.m., UP Sgt. Tim Reuss said. Officers did not press charges because they could not determine whether or not the student was underage, Reuss said. They could not identify the student or determine his age because he was unconscious, and Kos said the university does not release student information for privacy reasons.
At least one member of Kappa Sig rode in the ambulance with the student, who was released the following morning. Finley said he tried notified Greek Affairs about the incident that Saturday, but could not reach them until Monday.
“The fraternity has taken a mature and responsible approach and is willing to hold themselves accountable for this incident,” Kos said.
The Kappa Sig national hazing policy calls scavenger hunts hazing, along with requiring pledges to consume alcohol. It prescribes fines, new officer elections and suspension from social, intramural and recruiting activities as possible punishments for first-time offenses.
Kappa Sig District President Ted Pawasarat said he has concluded his investigation of the incident, but is withholding comment until the university investigation is complete.
Finley, along with members of the fraternity, Pawasarat and alumni adviser Matt Baron, will meet with Vice President for Student Affairs William Banis and other administrators a week from Wednesday. Banis, who will determine the final punishment, might not make an immediate decision.
