FAYETTEVILLE -- For the second time since 2013, the Sigma Chi fraternity at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville has been found responsible for violating a student conduct policy against hazing.
A May 19 letter from UA's Office of Student Standards and Conduct notified the fraternity of the finding and placed it on a one-year probationary period with an end date of May 5, 2017.
Leaders with the national Sigma Chi organization suspended the UA chapter in January pending a review, citing information alleging the hazing of new members. UA at the time said they would wait for the national organization's review before deciding what action to take, and the May 19 letter states the finding is based on UA's review of information from the national fraternity.
UA spokesman Scott Flanagin said he had no details of the hazing. The UA letter states that probation is imposed when "actions are found to be serious, but not serious enough to warrant suspension."
The Sigma Chi report does not describe specific reports of hazing, either, though it makes clear that reviewers found problems with the UA chapter. They visited the UA chapter in March for their review.
After their review, 94 out of 191 listed members of the UA chapter were returned to active status, the report states. Most others remained on suspension, not to be allowed on Sigma Chi property.
"We feel that this is a proud Chapter with a wonderful history that has lost its way," states the 12-page Sigma Chi report, which was released by UA.
In November 2013, UA also found the chapter responsible for hazing, as well as alcohol-related conduct violations, after a review by the fraternity's national leaders.
The Sigma Chi report states that the UA chapter never followed through in making changes after 2013 and made false claims that it did. The report concluded that the UA chapter "should have one more chance but should be aware that further disregard of Sigma Chi values and making untrue statements cannot happen."
The UA letter states that the chapter must also follow a list of recommendations put forward by national Sigma Chi leaders.
These include sponsoring a "Risk Management and Group Responsibility" workshop for members on topics such as alcohol and properly managing a social event. The report refers to "several instances" where members should have recognized a problem and stepped forward to intervene.
"Regardless of whether the problem was hazing or was just someone who was drinking irresponsibly, the team feels that it is very important that the Chapter receive some training and education on Bystander Intervention," the report states.
The report also describes hazing at Southeastern Conference schools as "not unusual," with students "often seduced into trying to have the 'toughest' pledge program."
A Thursday deadline described in the UA letter passed without a request for a hearing through the school's conduct system, Flanagin said. By university policy, that means the chapter accepts the finding and accompanying sanctions.
Regarding chapter activity, "the team felt the chapter should remain on suspension until the start of the Fall 2016 school term," the Sigma Chi report states, with only limited events allowed until then.
Metro on 05/28/2016