Pitt sorority suspended following report of possible pledge hazing
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The University of Pittsburgh has suspended a sorority while a possible off-campus hazing incident involving a dozen pledges and a paddle is being investigated by Penn Hills and university police, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, will remain under sanction until further notice, Pitt officials said.
Based on an initial report, Penn Hills police said a dozen pledges were taken to a residence in that community Feb. 21 and again on Friday. One or more of the women may have been subjected to hazing, “possibly involving a paddle,” police Chief Howard Burton said.
“They were then taken back to their dorms in Oakland,” he said. Pitt police so far have taken statements from five of the pledges.
The incident came to light after a Philadelphia woman visiting her daughter on campus last weekend noticed bruising on the daughter
a statement released by Pitt spokesman Kevin Zwick said. “Such actions run in stark contrast to our core values as an institution.”
A number of recent hazing and drinking incidents involving fraternities, some of them fatal, have focused national attention on how schools regulate Greek Life conduct.
Kenyon Bonner, Pitt vice provost and dean of students, said in an email to campus that the university will look anew at Greek life in light of the incident. An alcohol ban was imposed across the system last month under what Pitt called “modified social probation” after a student too young to legally consume alcohol was hospitalized for excessive drinking during a fraternity recruiting event.
Pitt said the student drank voluntarily and campus police in that case found no evidence of criminal hazing.
The fraternity, Sigma Chi, was suspended. City police are investigating that incident and a campus judicial review is underway.
“Hazing is destructive, demeaning, and demoralizing and has no place on our campus,” Mr. Bonner wrote after the latest incident. “Any student found responsible for hazing, regardless of the severity, could be dismissed from the University. Should this occur, the dismissed student can never return to any University of Pittsburgh campus.
“Student organizations found responsible for hazing will face similar consequences, including permanent termination of recognition on our campus,” he added.
He said that, “based on this incident, the Division of Student Affairs will reevaluate the next steps regarding the future of fraternity and sorority life at Pitt. In the meantime, the modified social probation will remain in effect.”