QU and Sigma Phi Epsilon should come clean about fraternity’s suspension

Another college fraternity has been suspended — and this time, the fraternity is in our backyard. Quinnipiac University has suspended the school’s chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon for two years. The suspension comes after an investigation by the school into what it is calling “actions” by members of the fraternity during the spring semester.

The two-year suspension is swift action by school officials for an investigation undertaken during the 2018 spring semester.

But we're not sure whether to applaud QU for taking decisive action by handing out a stiff penalty or calling them to task for not doing enough.

The school has decided to keep whatever occurred in-house by refusing to disclose what led to the suspensions — and released a statement that clarifies nothing but closes the door to further inquires.

“The university has suspended the chapter of the fraternity in question for two years following a thorough investigation regarding actions that occurred during the Spring 2018 semester,” said John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations, in a statement to Hearst Connecticut Media on Thursday.

Morgan said the university would have no further comment beyond the statement.

Ditto for the fraternity’s leadership. According to a letter purportedly written by Katherine Pezzella, director of Fraternity & Sorority Life at the university and published by Q30 Television, the suspension is set to run through June 1, 2020. The statement also notes the suspension could be extended further as almuni and national leaders of the fraternity decide how to “respond to the behaviors for which the organization was suspended.”

But respond to what “behaviors?”

Both statements lack transparency — and we consider that a bad move by QU and Sigma Phi Epsilon because it leaves open possibilities as to what might have happened. Two years is a long suspension and it is not unreasonable for the public to think the worst.

Fraternities across the country are under fire, being scrutinized in courts and are front page news after a series of incidents that have included allegations of rape, mysterious deaths and the hosting of parties with unsettling racial and cultural overtones.

We are not suggesting this suspension has anything to do with these issues but it is hard to find reason with QU and Sigma Phi Epsilon’s troubling position of no comment on details.

Andrew Parrish, strategic director of communications with the national Sigma Phi Epsilon organization, said in part “Sigma Phi Epsilon’s national leadership is aware of the suspension decision handed down by Quinnipiac University ... and is working concurrently with the university to determine next steps.”

We are very happy that the fraternity and school are working together to resolve whatever issue led to the suspensions. But at a time when institutions of higher learning are being closely examined not only for their lack of transparency on issues brought to their attention but also how those complaints were handled, the response from both parties here is underwhelming.

QU and Sigma Phi Epsilon should come clean and tell the public what happened.