University of Virginia suspends Kappa Sigma after hazing allegation
- University of Virginia student was injured in alleged hazing incident
- Media reports he fell backward down the stairs at Kappa Sigma party
- KS suspended; other fraternities can't hold new member events for 3 weeks
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – AUGUST 19: Students return to the University of Virginia for the fall semester on August 19, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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(NewsNation) — The University of Virginia’s chapter of Kappa Sigma has been suspended, and its other fraternities are temporarily prohibited from hosting all new member activities and social events as officials investigate allegations of hazing that injured one student.
A statement by UVA’s Inter-Fraternity Council said the alleged hazing happened Feb. 21.
“The IFC is informed of the University’s response and the ongoing investigations and actively works with University and state authorities,” said the statement made by the governing body for all 29 recognized fraternities on the University of Virginia’s campus. “Our primary concern is the health and well-being of the individual involved, and we extend our thoughts and prayers to the affected individual, their family, and loved ones during this time.”
The Inter-Fraternity Council voted to implement a suspension of new member events for all fraternities until March 20.
“This decision was made as a commitment to anti-hazing efforts and out of respect for the ongoing situation,” the IFC said. “We will continue to work diligently to protect our community as the situation evolves.”
UVA spokesperson Brian Coy said the university supports the IFC’s move and confirmed it suspended Kappa Sigma as hazing claims are investigated but declined to give details on what happened to the injured student in an email to NewsNation.
However, Jefferson Independent, a conservative student newspaper at the University of Virginia, reported that a second-year transfer student who was at the Kappa Sigma house fell backward down the staircase. He then hit his head at the bottom, knocking him unconscious.
A parent of a student who saw what happened gave a similar account to the Washington Post, which wrote that the injured party was still in the hospital as of Wednesday evening.
University police are leading an investigation into the hazing report, Coy said.
Should the hazing accusations be found credible, Coy said those involved would be subject to prosecution and disciplinary action. Kappa Sigma could be subject to a longer suspension or even termination as well.
“The University does not tolerate hazing activity, and we act quickly to investigate and pursue necessary disciplinary action when reports are made,” Coy wrote.
NewsNation has reached out to the national Kappa Sigma organization’s headquarters for comment.