NEWS RELEASE
KAPPA SIGMA FRATERNITY
March 28, 2002
Mitchell B. Wilson
Executive Director
Kappa Sigma Fraternity
PO Box 5066
Charlottesville, VA 22905
434/295-3193
Charlottesville, Virginia - The Supreme Executive Committee of Kappa
Sigma Fraternity revoked the charter of the Epsilon-Iota Chapter at
San Diego State University on March 23, 2002 at the committee's
quarterly meeting in Macon, Georgia. The Fraternity's board took the
action to revoke the charter after it had been determined that the
chapter violated the Hazing Policy of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. The
violation of the Hazing Policy was the second violation within a
five-year period.
According to Executive Director Mitchell B. Wilson, the Fraternity
has taken a very strong position to eliminate all forms of hazing.
Kappa Sigma is actively engaged in educating chapters on the subject
of hazing and is also enforcing the policy by disciplining those
chapters which fail to eliminate hazing from their operations.
"Kappa Sigma Fraternity is a Fraternity that is 100% committed to a
hazing-free environment. We have spent thousands of dollars in our
resources educating chapters and undergraduate leaders on the subject
of hazing and how it conflicts with the values of our Fraternity,"
Wilson said. The Kappa Sigma Fraternity will plan to return to San
Diego State University after an absence of a minimum, of two years.
The Fraternity was founded on the San Diego State University campus
on December 9, 1947.
Kappa Sigma Fraternity is represented on 209 college and university
campuses throughout North America and has initiated over 213,000 men.
The Fraternity was founded on December 10, 1869 at the University of
Virginia.
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NEWS RELEASE
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Office of Marketing and Communications
KAPPA SIGMA FRATERNITY EXPELLED FOR HAZING
CONTACT: Jack Beresford, (619) 594-2448,
jack.beresford@sdsu.edu
Consistent with SDSU and national fraternity policies, Kappa Sigma
Fraternity's SDSU Chapter has had its charter revoked and the
fraternity has been expelled from campus.
"The university has made clear to the Greek community that hazing
incidents involving alcohol will be met with penalties consistent
with our zero-tolerance policy," said SDSU President Stephen L.
Weber. "San Diego State applauds Kappa Sigma's national organization
for its decisive action and cooperation on this matter."
The action by SDSU and Kappa Sigma follows a Jan. 16 incident during
which university police found several underage Kappa Sigma pledges
and at least one executive officer of the fraternity in a university
parking garage with large amounts of alcohol intended for a
pre-initiation party. The incident was Kappa Sigma's second hazing
incident in the past five years.
The earliest Kappa Sigma could be considered by the university for
recognition and re-colonization is the 2005-06 academic year.
In addition to the fraternity's expulsion, individual students
involved have been referred to SDSU's Center for Student Rights and
Responsibilities for possible disciplinary action. Those found in
violation of the California code of regulations governing student
behavior may be expelled, suspended or placed on probation. It is
university policy that the names of students involved in judicial
procedures are not made public.
Similar to many of SDSU's Greek-letter fraternities, Kappa Sigma has
operated a local chapter on the SDSU campus since 1947 under the
direction of its national fraternity. Kappa Sigma Fraternity is
represented on 209 college and university campuses throughout North
America.
"San Diego State University takes the issue of alcohol abuse
seriously and has a comprehensive set of measures in place to address
underage drinking, binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems
among its campus population," said James Kitchen, vice president,
Division of Student Affairs. "These programs are working, as
evidenced by a 2001 study that showed the binge-drinking rate of SDSU
students is 43 percent below the national average. However, for
those individuals and student organizations found in violation of our
polices there will be clear consequences."
SDSU has received national recognition from the U.S. Department of
Education as a national leader for its alcohol education and
enforcement programs. The university supports these programs through
the SDSU Police, Student Health Services, Housing and Residential
Life, Counseling and Psychological Services and the Center for
Fraternity and Sorority Life.
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