Pitt fraternity suspended after an alcohol incident

University says little about what happened

The University of Pittsburgh confirmed Tuesday that it has suspended a fraternity over an alcohol incident last week that put a student in the hospital, but Pitt for a second day refused to identify the organization or describe what transpired.

Kenyon Bonner, vice provost and dean of students, declined to be interviewed, and an office employee referred calls to university marketing and media relations officials. Joseph Miksch, one of those officials, released a late-day statement largely rehashing the university’s already stated position but including no specifics about the incident, nor anything about the unidentified student’s condition.

An official at Sigma Chi’s international headquarters in

Evanston, Ill., however, identified its chapter at Pitt as the one involved.

“Sigma Chi International Fraternity is aware of the incident that took place with our chapter at the University of Pittsburgh in which they apparently violated several provisions of our policy on alcohol and drugs,” fraternity executive director Michael Church stated in an email. “We have placed the chapter on interim suspension while we investigate the nature of the incident.

“Incidents such as this one underscore the need for the enhanced policies on health and safety that we announced last week,” he added.

It was a reference to changes his fraternity’s headquarters announced Jan. 16 to address mounting concern about drinking and fraternity hazing on college campuses. Among the moves approved for its chapters was a ban on alcohol at pledge events and a prohibition against hard liquor at fraternity premises.

The incident Thursday evening at Pitt prompted Mr. Bonner to place dozens of fraternities and sororities on what the university called “modified interim social probation,” meaning the organizations must not sponsor, co-sponsor or participate in any social activities in which alcohol is present.

Pitt officials said the campus-wide ban, and the fraternity chapter suspension, are to remain in place pending the outcome of an investigation that will include a review by Pitt’s Office of Student Conduct.

Mr. Miksch said fraternity and sorority leaders must work with the university in the coming weeks to create an action plan to ensure Greek life culture ‘’supports student wellness and safety” among other ideals.

The university also released a statement on behalf of Mr. Bonner:

“The gravity of this incident demands that we reflect on who we are as a Greek system and as a university community in terms of alcohol use,” the statement read. “Fraternities and sororities play an important role in the lives of our students and university culture and we are proud of our students who are stepping up to address this issue.

“We are certain that the fraternity and sorority community at Pitt can help us build a safer and healthier environment for everyone to participate in.”

Pitt has not said whether the incident, first reported by the student newspaper The Pitt News, occurred at the fraternity’s house. The university also has not said whether hazing was involved in the event, which included members and nonmembers.

At Penn State University, the death in February of Timothy Piazza, 19, a sophomore and Beta Theta Pi pledge from Lebanon, N.J., helped focus national attention on hazing and drinking. About two dozen fraternity members face charges.

At Pitt, Mr. Miksch said the university cannot release information about a student’s condition or whether that person remained hospitalized.

Earlier Tuesday, Christian Mallare Baker, president of Pitt’s Interfraternity Council, declined to discuss the matter.

“I am not going to comment on the incident itself until facts come out from the Pitt police,” he said by email.

Pitt police Monday referred an initial inquiry to media relations. Mr. Miksch did not specify the department’s involvement, and it remained unclear whether any criminal charges are being considered.

Pitt’s website said 39 organizations comprise the university’s fraternity and sorority life.