I am bumping this thread with an article posted yesterday in the University sponsored newspaper at Southern Miss. I believe it addresses many questions and accusations posted in this thread, by University officials... Including the "little sister/sweetheart" postings.

http://media.www.studentprintz.com/m...-3420639.shtml

Kappa Sigma suspended
Lesley Walters
Issue date: 9/9/08 Section: News
Media Credit: Maggie Sanford

Following the alleged hazing incident that occurred August 28, University officials announced Friday that the Kappa Sigma fraternity's USM charter was revoked and their fraternity house closed.

Friday afternoon, 19 males moved out of the house, supervised by a patrolman of the university police department. The house and the property on which it stands are owned by the university.

Associate Dean for Greek Life Trey Skaggs, a native of Gulfport, said there is no room to house the students on campus since there has been a waiting list for residence halls since the start of the semester.

"When we went over Friday, we provided them with a list of every apartment complex in Hattiesburg with a vancacy," Skaggs said. "I've heard that some have already moved into two different apartments, so I know that they are in the process of doing that."

George Napier, president of the Interfraternity Council and native of Mandeville, La., said many of the ousted students preferred to move off campus, and that it was fortunate that there are newly built complexes near campus for them to move into. He added that while moving off campus might be inconvenient for the students, losing their charter was much worse, even to members of other Greek organizations.

"For some people ... this is all they have. This is their four years of college. To take that away is really a scary thing," Napier said. "It might be hard to understand for people not in fraternities and sororities, but it is not just a student organization, it is not just the partying you see. It's much deeper than that -- much more meaningful to the members."An investigation into the alleged hazing incident began after an event to welcome new little sisters to the Kappa Sigma fraternity, according to Hattiesburg American reports. Two female students who attended the event were transported to a local hospital for treatment of alcohol poisoning. One of the students was released the next day.

The other student, a sophomore from Waveland, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.47 -- more than five times the legal limit of 0.08 -- and was kept in intensive care for further observation and treatment. She has since been released from ICU, but remains at Forrest General Hospital.

President of the Student Government Association Melissa Cirino said "there are so many different emotions with this situation," but her primary concern is with the student and her family.

"I think we could argue all day about whose fault it is and where to place blame,"
Cirino said, "but I think if we go back to the fact that rules were broken and people are hurt because of it ... things need to be changed."

Cirino added that while she is a representative voice of the student body, she has never been involved in Greek Life, which makes up less than 10 percent of the student population with approximately 1,200 members.

"I think our administration and our student affairs division has been very, very generous with giving [Greek] organizations the opportunity for self-governance," Cirino said, "but when that doesn't happen ... and they get out of control, then what we're seeing is a lack of self-governance."

Skaggs said the executive members of Greek Life are in charge of enforcing policies on an organizational level, while individuals who break the code of conduct are referred to the Dean of Students Office. Greek Life has its own judicial board that adheres to its own constitution and bylaws in addition to university policies.

"This - what occurred two weeks ago - was on a magnitude that was above the [IFC]. That's something that the university has to deal with," Skaggs said.

Skaggs said the scandal has created dialogue between different chapters on campus regarding alcohol education, risk management and prevention, and has led to the research and creation of a new policy in Greek Life regarding little sisters. He said most national fraternities and sororities suggest that little sisters be prohibited.

Little sisters are generally female friends or girlfriends of active fraternity members and may or may not be involved in a sorority. Often, their responsibilities include painting party signs, cooking and cleaning in the fraternity house. Active members vote on whom to induct as little sisters each year.

"We've had little sisters on this campus for a while," Skaggs said, "and that is something the Office of Greek Life is addressing ... We have put a suspension on all activities regarding little sisters at this point and in the upcoming week we're going to be working on getting that policy, but right now we're kind of in the research part of it."

A revised fraternity/sorority alcohol policy was introduced this semester, and has been posted on all of the doors of chapter houses. Skaggs said the Greek Life is in the process of educating all of its members about the new policy, which was reworked to prohibit beer pong, quarters, funnels and several other techniques and devices that encourage rapid alcohol consumption.
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© Copyright 2008 Student Printz

Update: Grand Jury Indictments

A couple of news stories or articles; several other news sources in the area around USM have similar or all - but - identical stories posted:

From U of Southern Mississippi site:

http://www.usm.edu/pr/cms/index.php?...=2106&Itemid=2

From the Hattiesburg newspaper's site:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/a...EWS01/81106046

As I often say, let's all remember the principle of presumption of innocence. These are just indictments.

Edited to add:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/a...WS01/811080305

The Hattiesburg paper has another follow-up article ^ reporting that other students who were present at / involved in the incident may be disciplined by the university -- not just the eleven who've been indicted.

The Hattiesburg paper has now updated the list of those indicted so that it's complete:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/a...WS01/811120311

Once again, please remember the presumption of innocence; these are just indictments.

Edited to add: A more recent story on the same paper's site says that three people were allegedly hazed, not two, as previously reported:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/a...811140312/1002

This past month, the SEC (supreme executive committee, Kappa Sigma's governing body) expelled the chapter at Southern Miss. and also each and every undergraduate brother at said chapter. (read it in an e-mail) this is good information. I am a Kappa Sigma.

wow

I attended District Conclave recently, and the issue of little sisters came up.

Apparently, it's not just protection of girls from becoming official sex objects. In the 70s, groups of women sued Kappa Sigma because they were participating in events and were not allowed to initiate, although as "little sisters" they were unofficially recognized as members. Kappa Sigma maintained the fellowship of Brothers was for men, not everybody who wanted it. Kappa Sig lost, and as a result little sisters were outlawed, so that they would not have the legal backing that they were participating unofficially.

If you claim to have little sisters who participate in similar pledgeship rituals, you are violating the Code of Conduct of Kappa Sigma and you could be up for membership review. I'm very big on rules and order (much to the disdain of some of my fellow brothers) and I'd be upset if other people, who weren't part of the fraternity, sued to be allowed to initiate. I may do "Greek" stuff, but I don't demand to be initiated into Sigma Chi. There are options for girls who want to be Greeks, and it seems pretty hokey to want to be Kappa Sigmas.

This is totally different from sweethearts. If your girlfriend bakes cookies for a party, she's not a little sister. If she's a nametag hostess, she's not automatcally a sex toy or a legal member.

Thomas

This is 100% accurate. Our new code of conduct that was passed around to the chapters has a section based on little sister programs. If you have a sanctioned program, you were given 60 days to tell the district grandmasters of your district with no penalties, outside of that 60 days, you could easily be up for expulsion. no questions asked.

I am a Pike at USM, our house is right next door to Kappa Sigma, I also knew DG who was hospitalized very well, I've known her since middle school actually.

I'm still unsure of what happened, I am just happy that she made a full recovery. She is still attending USM and is still a member of Delta Gamma.. People involved were charged with attempted manslaughter and a hefty fine.. Trials haven't occured yet.

I have friends who are Kappa Sigmas and I do feel sorry for them a bit. They all moved into The Cottages, which is basically a gated townhouse community and they are having parties and such using the name Sig Nation.. Nationals isn't too happy about that and has been asking students to contact them if they are using the Kappa Sigma name at events..

The backlash is kind of a good one. Hazing is still predominant in the deep south for some reason.. and now Greek Life has made changes as to where hazing is very hard to do, and Initiation week (hell week) is basically going to have to be non hazing.. They set up a window in which we must initiate our pledges.. there recommended week is 12-18th of January.. during that time they will be doing walkthroughts during the day but at 5pm they will stop to respect our rituals.. but if they suspect hazing University Police will be involved.

It's not bad nor good.. it's just alot of precautions are made now, little sisters are also abolished and I know sororties are making sure none agree to be little sisters.. The reason alot of nationals bans them, as I'm sure it was mentioned, is because by initating them into being a "little sis" and having them involved as a partial member makes them..a partial member.. which makes it difficult for the fraternity to be an all male fraternity.

Anyhow,

USM greek life is making changes.

Thanks guys.

Thanks for the update, TAPike.