Penn State placed a frat on interim suspension. It opted to operate independently
Sigma Pi, 303 Fraternity Row, State College, was put on interim suspension in April and will remain like that until the student conduct process concludes, a Penn State spokesperson confirmed in an email. The university's student affairs site states it is on interim suspension for 'alleged violations of university policies and guidelines.'
But during the process, the fraternity told the university it intended to operate as an independent organization, regardless of the outcome. It is the eighth fraternity at Penn State operating without university recognition.
'This decision mirrors a national trend where some fraternities choose to cut ties with institutions to avoid oversight. However, the university retains jurisdiction for the matter currently under review, as the allegations occurred when the group was a recognized student organization. Details regarding the outcome will be shared when the student conduct process is complete,' university spokesperson Wyatt DuBois said.
Groups that operate independently of the university can't be held to Penn State's standards for recognized student organizations. The student affairs site states they can't participate in official university activities and while the individual students can be held accountable under the student Code of Conduct, the collective group is not held to the same standards.
'This lack of structure increases the risk for behaviors and environments that jeopardize student health and safety — including hazing, high-risk alcohol use, and unchecked misconduct. Penn State strongly discourages students from affiliating or associating with unrecognized organizations,' DuBois said.
In addition to Sigma Pi, other known unrecognized chapters and organizations are Acacia, Delta Phi, Lambda Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE), Phi Kappa Sigma (Skulls), Sigma Chi and Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.
During this past spring semester, three fraternities (Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi and Tau Kappa Epsilon) banded together to form an independent, student-led State College Interfraternity Council. Penn State has said the rogue independent council is 'deeply concerning' and strongly discouraged students from affiliating with the unrecognized organizations and avoiding events hosted by the groups.
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