Dozens of fraternities at the University of Virginia have suspended recruitment activities for three weeks amid allegations that a student was recently injured by hazing.
The school’s Inter-Fraternity Council voted Tuesday night for the three-week suspension of in-person recruitment and social events at all 30 of its fraternities “as a commitment to anti-hazing efforts and out of respect for the ongoing situation,” the student-run organization’s governing board wrote in a statement. “Our primary concern is the health and well-being of the individual involved, and we extend our thoughts and prayers to the affected individual, their family, and loved ones during this time,” they wrote.
The university supports the decision, U-Va. spokesman Brian Coy said in an email. He wrote that the decision “will offer time for UVA and the IFC chapters to evaluate the safety of recruitment activities and ensure that all organizations are complying with UVA policy and Virginia law.”
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The university had already suspended recognition of the Kappa Sigma chapter as campus police investigate the hazing allegations.
Officials have not released details of the alleged incident, which the IFC statement said occurred Feb. 21.
A parent of a student who had witnessed the incident and described it to the parent said the student who was injured was pledging the fraternity and had been drinking that night. The parent said the student fell backward down a long flight of stairs in the chapter house and was knocked unconscious. The injured student remains in the hospital, according to the parent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of possible retribution.
A university spokesman declined to comment beyond the statement provided, which said that if hazing allegations are proved accurate, anyone involved will be subject to prosecution and university disciplinary action, and the chapter will be subject to further suspension or termination. “The University does not tolerate hazing activity,” Coy said, “and we act quickly to investigate and pursue necessary disciplinary action when reports are made.”
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Kappa Sigma Fraternity is aware of an injury at the U-Va. chapter house, according to Leo J. Brown IV, the national organization’s vice president for external affairs. Details of the incident are still being investigated, he wrote in an email. “Our hopes and prayers are with our member for a speedy recovery. While we do not know the full circumstances of this incident, any member found to violate the Fraternity’s Code of Conduct will be held accountable,” he wrote.
U-Va. has a hotline and other ways to report concerns, as well as hazing prevention efforts detailed on a “Hoos Against Hazing” webpage. The university judicial council typically deals with a few hazing allegations each year, according to the campus newspaper, the Cavalier Daily.
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