Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
FSU frat charter revoked after student’s death
The national fraternity where 20-year-old Florida State University student Andrew Coffey was pledging before his death has shuttered its local chapter, a spokesman said.
Pi Kappa Phi revoked the charter of FSU’s Beta Eta chapter on Friday, immediately forcing an end to all chapter activities and operations, said Todd Shelton, a spokesman for the national organization.
The chapter violated the fraternity’s “social event management policies” on Nov. 2, the day before Coffey’s death, Shelton said.
“Pi Kappa Phi’s board of directors determined closing the chapter is the only appropriate action,” said Chief Executive Officer Mark E. Timmes. “Pi Kappa Phi holds our chapters and individual members accountable for the choices they make through our conduct process.”
Andrew Coffey, 20, was found unresponsive Nov. 3 after an off-campus party that was attended by more than 50 people the night before.
Officers and paramedics determined Coffey, who was wearing a red FSU shirt and khaki pants, died, according to a news release.
The circumstances of Coffey’s death have remained a mystery, but alcohol may have played a role. Police say they are waiting for the results of an autopsy before announcing the cause of death.
The national fraternity organization declined to say
what specific policies were broken during the party.
However, documents on the organization’s website say members are expected to follow state laws that outlaw serving alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.
Other records say the organization is unequivocally opposed to hazing.
The local chapter of FSU has faced disciplinary action in the past five years for hazing, alcohol violations and unspecified misconduct, according to disciplinary logs maintained by the national fraternity.
The university had already indefinitely suspended all 54 fraternities and sororities, said Florida State University President John Thrasher. He also banned alcohol at student events, which includes those run by more than 700 organizations outside the Greek community.