A fraternity chapter on campus of a large Texas college has been suspended for five years after an investigation revealed several hazing offenses.
The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity’s Beta Zeta chapter at Southern Methodist University in Dallas was ordered to cease all organizational activity on Tuesday after investigators discovered that new pledges were subjected to humiliating initiation rituals.
Those trying to enter the fraternity were in some cases forced to eat onions, hot sauce, eggs, and milk, according to The Daily Campus student newspaper.
Some new members were even ‘required’ or ‘encouraged’ to drink alcohol.
This is the third on-campus fraternity that has been shut down over alleged hazing.
This past fall, SMU ordered the suspension of Kappa Alpha Order for four years.
The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity’s Beta Zeta chapter at Southern Methodist University in Dallas was ordered to cease all organizational activity on Tuesday after investigators discovered that new pledges were subjected to humiliating initiation rituals. SMU’s campus is seen above
In the spring of 2016, SMU suspended Lambda Chi Alpha. It will be allowed to resume operating on campus in 2021.
All three fraternities that were disciplined reportedly forced would-be pledges to be subjected to very similar hazing techniques.
They included forcing recruits to drink alcohol and eat foods including jalapenos, habaneros, red onions, and milk until they vomited, according to the Dallas Morning News.
In recent months, a number of high-profile cases involving fraternity hazing have made headlines because of tragic deaths.
Over a dozen members of a Pennsylvania State University fraternity are being tried on charges including manslaughter and aggravated assault in connection with the February 2017 death of Timothy Piazza.
Piazza, 21, is alleged to have died after drinking large amounts of alcohol – 18 drinks in just 90 minutes – as part of a hazing ritual at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house in State College.
Since Piazza’s death, at least 10 of the 49 fraternities at Penn State have been suspended, according to the OnwardState.com student blog.
Earlier this year, Florida State University suspended its fraternities and sororities after the November 3 death of Andrew Coffey.
Coffey, 22, was a junior and a pledge at Pi Kappa Phi.
He died November 3 after he was found unresponsive after a party. The cause of death was later determined to be alcohol poisoning.
Coffey was found with a blood alcohol level of .447, which is more than five times the legal limit to drive.
He drank the alcohol at a fraternity event known as ‘Big Brother Night,’ when older pledges get acquainted with the younger pledges.
FSU has since lifted the ban on Greek Life though it has kept some restrictions.