Fisk KAPsi gets cracked; campus pres cracks all chapters
 

A violent case of hazing has led to a crackdown on fraternities and sororities at Fisk University.

A student was allegedly beaten during a recent initiation with the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

“We have a tribunal that they will go under. If the allegation is proven then they will face a suspension on campus,” Fisk University spokeswoman Brianna Latham said.

The allegation involved a hazing incident that happened off campus. Officials said a pledge was beaten on buttocks with a paddle so severely that he was unable to walk immediately after the incident.

The student will be okay, but the university is cracking down, officials said.

“Our main thing to make sure no one is in jeopardy,” Latham said.

There are no fraternity or sorority houses on campus.

The university’s new president, Hazel O'Leary, wants to send a strong message that hazing will not be permitted. That’s why she placed a one-year moratorium for all Greek activities on campus, Latham said.

That means no more recruiting, parties or gatherings of any kind for any of the eight Greek chapters.

A member of one of the other fraternities, Eli Ivey, said most members discourage hazing, but sometimes it's difficult to control.

“Each fraternity has guidelines, but there are bad apples that make it look bad for everybody,” Ivey said.

University officials said if there are further reports of hazing of any kind the university may move to eliminate the Greek system all together.

that would be a Sad Situation if they eliminted the enitre greek system at Fisk.

With no recruiting, picnics or gatherings of any kind, I don't see how they'll survive. I also don't see how it is fair to punish all chapters for the action of one. And, this is in reaction to an allegation that hasn't been investigated yet. This sounds like a violation of some basic rights.

Dee

This seems to become the norm lately. Especially after the two deaths at U. Co.

They banned All Greeks from Social functions.

Killing a Greek Campus for sure.:o

If Fisk is private, they can do what Alfred U. did very easily.

I agree that they are overreacting. Were I a President of a GLO there, I'd most likely recruit, but do so covertly -- in other words, grow my organization just like normal, but put off the official paperwork until the University reinstated GLO's.

I think they can survive a 1 year break though.

I don't think they need to worry about that. These are NPHC organizations at one of the most famous and respected HBCU's...they'll be fine. You could keep them off campus for four years and they'd come back fine.

Ditto.

Otherwise, I agree with everyone who thinks the administration's reaction doesn't fit with the situation.

I visited Fisk last year...beautiful beautiful chapel and a nice campus. I met a girl in the cafeteria line who went to a Pittsburgh public school! I was so excited! But the feeling i got from being on campus was that being Greek was a *very* big deal...so I can see how this would be very upsetting to a lot of people.

Hey Sensuret

To everyone else: As a former Fiskite, yes Greek life is a big deal but hazing has gotten progressively worse on campus over the last few years. Everyone knows that IF you are caught the university will react swiftly and harshly. The Kappas were only reinstated at Fisk in 98 ish after about five years because of hazing incidents with the chapter. It may seem harsh but we are a small school that actually knows EVERYONE on campus and they are there to OVER protect us from time to time. It's unlikely that the Greek system will ever be abolished because it is so integral to Fisk's campus but a year with no intake won't crush any chapter there. As for the comment about growing the org without campus approval--NPHC orgs cannot and will not allow anyone to be inducted if the campus does not approve. If they are all permanently removed that may allow for some other methods of initiation but for now everyone just gets a break.

I guess the line that was most shocking to me was "no gatherings". I don't know how they'd define a gathering, but to me, that sounded like, no meetings, no philanthropy projects, no association as a group whatsoever. Do three sorors hanging together constitute a "gathering"? And, it wasn't just for the group that did it, it is for all the groups. I am all for stopping hazing, but it doesn't seem fair to punish groups who have no control over other groups.

Dee