A UConn sorority suspended for hazing allegations that included forced alcohol drinking has been stripped of its recognition as a student organization, the university said in a statement. But the sorority has appealed its decision.
Kappa Kappa Gamma received notice of the decision on May 7 and submitted an appeal May 15. The sorority is prohibited from operating on campus until 2017 and will be losing its house in Husky Village during that time.
Joseph Briody, UConn's associate director of student affairs, told the sorority in a letter that the school had a "proponderance of evidence" showing sorority sisters engaged in hazing behavior at an event where they received Big Brothers from a Greek fraternity.
That behavior included "forced consumption of alcohol, acting like animals, and sizzling like bacon, which included lying on the floor and wiggling," he said.
Kappa was found in violation of several provisions of the UConn Student Code, including “conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety” of students, hazing, serving alcohol to minors and “abuse of the University student conduct system,” the letter reads.
The sorority is barred until May 7, 2018. Residents of the Kappa house in Husky Village were required to move out by May 15. Students who have elected to live in the house next fall will be reassigned to other on-campus housing, according to the letter.
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The sorority said in a statement that it was "disappointed" with the ban, which it called "extreme," and noted that the event was not sanctioned by the sorority or its UConn chapter. It said it plans to discuss an appeal with chapter leadership.
"Kappa believes that removing an entire chapter from campus for the poor decisions made by a few individuals at an unsanctioned event is wrong," the sorority said.
The school's decision to ban the sorority comes about two months after an alleged hazing incident that sent one member to the hospital with alcohol poisoning.
“The University’s decision to revoke Kappa Kappa Gamma’s registration and recognition was not taken lightly, but it was appropriate and imperative in light of the severity of the circumstances,” university officials said in a statement Wednesday. “The safety of our students is paramount, and UConn will continue to take swift and appropriate action whenever necessary to protect their well-being.”
The UConn chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was also involved in the alleged hazing incident and was stripped of its recognition May 13.
With the permanent suspensions of Kappa and SAE, the number of Greek organizations on campus has fallen from 34 to 32, according to the university.
Three other Greek organizations – Delta Zeta, Delta Gamma and Sigma Chi – are on interim suspension in connection with unrelated incidents.
