BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University suspended its Beta Eta chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity this week, saying it had violated the school’s alcohol and hazing policies.
The fraternity’s national governing body confirmed Wednesday that the IU chapter had been ordered to immediately cease all activities.
Indiana University’s vice provost for student affairs, Lori Reesor, issued a written statement about the chapter’s closure:
"The university supports the national Fraternity’s swift and strong action and is in full agreement with this decision. Despite the significant efforts of Indiana University staff, Beta Eta alumni leaders, and Fraternity staff in recent semesters, the Beta Eta Chapter failed to implement agreed-upon procedures and plans to ensure compliance with rules and policies during social activities and new member education activities. The health and safety of our students remain a top priority and we will not tolerate actions by any group or individual affiliated with the university that put our students at risk."
A spokesman for the national Sigma Nu organization said they expect the IU chapter to serve a three-year suspension.
This is at least the second Sigma Nu chapter closed in Indiana over the past two years.
In 2015, Purdue University suspended its Sigma Nu chapter for two years after a determination that the chapter had hosted functions where hazing occurred and minors consumed alcohol.
Purdue and Sigma Nu officials investigated reports of hazing, including servitude, drug use and alcohol use by minors during Beta Zeta Chapter functions and found that such activities had taken place during the fall 2014 semester.
Indiana University has had several issues with fraternities over the past several years – most recently in January, when the school suspended its chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity over “multiple instances of hazing.”
Delta Tau Delta’s national chapter sent the Bloomington chapter a notice that it was no longer in good standing, writing, “The national Fraternity took this action due to the chapter's repeated violations of Delta Tau Delta's risk management policy. Most recently, there were multiple instances of hazing within the chapter's new member education program."
In December 2015, the IU chapter of Phi Kappa Psi voluntary surrendered its charter after finding that its members had taken part in “conducted which violated the fraternities standards and expectations with regard to risk management, and which contradict The Creed and values of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.”
CALL 6 | Suspended IU frat received numerous sanctions over 2-year period
Two months earlier, the Alpha Tau Omega chapter house at IU was closed following the release of a graphic sex video purportedly filmed during fraternity activities.
MORE | National office of Alpha Tau Omega closes IU chapter after sex video surfaces
IU also closed one of its sororities, the Delta Omicron Chapter of Tri Delta, in March. The national Tri Delta organization said the chapter had “been involved in activities that do not represent the organization.”
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