A fourth fraternity has lost recognition at the University of Connecticut after hazing members and holding parties while on probation for harassing women from a historically black sorority, according to a spokesperson for the university.
UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said Pi Kappa Alpha hazed members and held two parties in November, with alcohol available to underage students, while the fraternity was on probation following an incident in September.
PIKE held one of the parties two days after being was placed on probation, according to Reitz.
Reitz said the fraternity was sanctioned following an incident the night of Sept. 29-30, when PIKE members feuded with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. over the school's "spirit rock," which organizations can spray paint.
PIKE had painted the rock in support of a member who was "facing a critical medical crisis." AKA wanted to paint over it to honor the anniversary of their charter, and the two organizations clashed.
Reitz said AKA members called police twice that night to report that PIKE was bullying and intimidating them. PIKE was subsequently placed on probation through the end of the academic year.
But just two days later, the fraternity held a party, violating the student code and terms of its probation, according to Reitz. PIKE held a second party a week later.
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The fraternity is also accused of hazing and engaging in "conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person," according to a letter from the university notifying PIKE of its loss of recognition.
University officials said the fraternity did nothing to "meaningfully prevent such deleterious behavior or address... unhealthy aspects of the organization's culture."
PIKE's loss of recognition took effect March 13 and will last through May 5, 2019. The fraternity has until March 20 to appeal the decision.
The university is still investigating the spirit rock incident and is expected to make a decision by the end of the academic year.
PIKE is the fourth fraternity and seventh Greek organization to be sanctioned this year.
Fraternities Sigma Chi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon have also lost recognition at UConn, along with sororities Delta Zeta, Delta Gamma and Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Kappa Sigma, a fraternity, has been placed on probation for alleged alcohol violations and can appeal the suspension on or before March 20, according to Reitz.
"Fraternities, sororities, and other organizations play a vital and valuable role in the life of a great university – but UConn will not accept endangering behavior or flouting of the rules by anyone, under any circumstances," Reitz said in a statement Monday.
PIKE national headquarters has not returned a request for comment. AKA declined to comment on the incident.
According to the UConn PIKE website, the Iota Chi chapter was founded in Storrs in February 1994 and had 90 active members prior to losing recognition.
