MORGANTOWN — A West Virginia University fraternity was placed on an interim suspension Monday after a reported hazing incident in violation of the student conduct code.
According to a press release from the university, the WVU Office of Student Conduct sent letters outlining the specific allegations against the Delta Chi fraternity to the chapter president and advisor.
The university said the interim suspension is effective immediately and will prevent the fraternity from all recruitment activities, as well as participating, organizing or attending social functions, in addition to other restrictions.
While the specific details of the hazing incidents have not been disclosed, the WVU Campus Student Code defines hazing as “any action or situation which endangers or adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of another person or persons, would cause extreme embarrassment or adversely affect the dignity of another person or persons, or causes another person or persons to destroy or remove public or private property.”
Their definition includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced consumption of any food, alcohol, drug or other substance, any activity which would subject an individual or individuals to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation or forced exclusion from social contact.
The allegations are said to not involve alcohol or controlled substances. Because the incident is still under investigation, WVU is currently unable to comment on the exact nature of the claims. The Dominion Post has requested a copy of the letter sent to Delta Chi outlining the accusations through the Freedom of Information Act, but did not hear back by press time.
“Delta Chi’s interim suspension will remain in place as the investigation and review process proceed,” WVU said in the release. In addition to any disciplinary actions set by the university’s code of conduct, the allegations may also be reviewed for potential outside criminal charges.
“I join the university’s administration, along with many others in the Center for Fraternal Values and Leadership, who are working to ensure we are acting in accordance with rules established for the safety of all of our chapters and their members, in our profound disappointment,” said Matthew Richardson, director of the center and chair of the WVU Hazing Prevention Task Force.
Students are able to anonymously report hazing incidents and find resources about WVU’s hazing prevention efforts at greeklife.wvu.edu. Additional resources on hazing are also available at safety.wvu.edu.
