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KA suspended at two other schools
Eric Finley and Megan Middleton Staff Writers
Published February 22nd 2001
Kappa Alpha Order fraternities at Arkansas Tech University and Southwestern University, chapters of the same national organization suspended from NT Feb. 2, were both suspended for five years this week for conduct unbecoming their universities.
Southwestern University in Georgetown suspended its Kappa Alpha chapter on Monday, citing violations of safety, alcohol, and personal conduct as well as verbal and physical abuse. A statement released by SWU President Jake Schrum said at least two members of the fraternity allegedly used racial slurs.
Arkansas Tech's suspension against its Kappa Alpha chapter was handed down Wednesday, following a six-month investigation by the school into the fraternity. The school listed many of the same reasons as SWU, including threats, intimidation and harassment of students, as well as disorderly conduct. A statement released by Arkansas Tech made no mention of usage of racial slurs, however. The school also placed Sigma Phi Epsilon on probation for a year.
The suspensions come just three weeks after outrage over similar allegations against Kappa Alpha rocked NT. The suspensions given by Arkansas Tech and SWU are similar to the five-year death penalty handed down by NT against Kappa Alpha.
Although all three suspensions have come within a month, representatives from both Arkansas Tech and SWU called the timing coincidental.
"The difference between our situation and the one at UNT is that this results from a progressive series of violations against students and against our school handbook," SWU spokesperson Eric Van Danen said. "It's very specific to Southwestern. It is similar to the suspension handed down [by NT] because the members are required to move out of their house and petition the university to return in five years."
Susie Nickelson, a spokesperson for Arkansas Tech, said that although university officials were aware of NT's situation, it had little impact on Arkansas Tech's decision.
"The sanctions at UNT took place about the same time there was another incident involving Kappa Alpha here," Nickelson said. "But I don't believe that would have an effect on the university's ruling. The timing of it was purely a coincidence."
Roddy Wolper, director of news and information at NT, said to his knowledge there was no contact between the three universities about the Kappa Alpha fraternities. Wolper also said troubles with Kappa Alpha by other fraternities did not affect NT's decision.
"We had clear cause to take the actions that we did based on what we found in the investigation," Wolper said. "We had to make our decision based on what happened at UNT."
The three incidents do have similarities in the charges, however. All three schools cited Kappa Alpha for unsociable behavior. NT and SWU also ruled that members of Kappa Alpha made racist comments. All three had been put on probation before their suspensions, NT's chapter twice for alcohol violations in the past decade. SWU had also placed individual members of the fraternity on probation in recent weeks.
Though the three suspensions appear similar in nature, a spokesperson for the National Kappa Alpha Chapter denied any kind of negative trend against his fraternity.
"We look for new and creative ways to educate our chapters on our policies and proper decorum and behavior," said Larry Wiese, executive director of Kappa Alpha Order in Lexington, Va.
Wiese also denied allegations of racism against the national organization, saying that the use of the Confederate battle flag by some Kappa Alpha fraternities is not a symbol of the national chapter.
Kappa Alpha members at NT were accused of waving a Confederate battle flag during bid day at a group of prospective football recruits touring the campus. Members of Eagle Angels said members of NT's Kappa Alpha chapter made racist comments to African-American football recruits in the group.
Matt Spellman, president of NT's Kappa Alpha chapter, denied that any member of Kappa Alpha made racial slurs to the football recruits.
The Kappa Alpha fraternity house at Southern Methodist University had a Confederate battle flag painted on its basketball court until members painted over the flag in recent weeks.
"The Confederate [battle] flag has never been a symbol of Kappa Alpha Order," Wiese said. "[Fraternity members] are concerned that their use of the Confederate flag has been misinterpreted."
In fact, Wiese said members of 17 chapters of Kappa Alpha Order from Texas and Oklahoma met at SMU Saturday and passed a resolution condemning the use of the Confederate battle flag in association with Kappa Alpha.
"They voted unanimously to ban the display of the Confederate flag from any Kappa Alpha property or event," Wiese said.
Van Danen said many of SWU's Kappa Alpha members were active in the Georgetown community. Van Danen said of the Kappa Alpha members at SWU, 19 were members of the school's baseball team.
Like the former Kappa Alpha members at NT, no individuals from SWU or Arkansas Tech were suspended from school
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