After losing all appeal attempts this summer, Lambda Phi Epsilon fraternity received a four-year suspension from Northwestern, said Jim Neumeister, director of judicial affairs. The sanction was the result of a hearing in front of University Hearing and Appeals System last spring.

The board found the historically Asian fraternity violated four university rules, Neumeister said: hazing, a rule prohibiting violence or threatening the safety of any person, restrictions on recruitment until Winter Quarter of a student’s freshman year and failure to cooperate with the investigation and student conduct hearings.

Knowledge of the hazing practices became widespread after an April story in The Weekly. The article gave accounts from four of the 13 new members who withdrew before initiation. They said members of the fraternity forced them to perform all-night calisthenics on South Beach and drink gallon jugs of thick liquid appearing to be a mixture of ketchup and Tabasco sauce.

The fraternity is prohibited from any on-campus or off-campus activities until at least the 2012-2013 school year.

Former chapter President Chris Chen declined to comment about the suspension. Several other former members also would not comment.

Neumeister said it was unfortunate that hazing has been an issue at NU.

“The health and safety of all the members of our community is a top priority,” he said. “Anytime we might learn that there is potential harm or threat to students, we’re going to investigate it.”

Lambda Phi is the first and only internationally recognized Asian-American fraternity, with 46 chapters across the United States. The NU chapter was founded in May 1997. In September 2007, 62 members were part of NU’s Lambda Phi chapter.

– RENEE LEE