BLOOMINGTON – The Indiana University chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was issued a cease and desist on Friday, September 1 for hazing.
All activities within the chapter are suspended until further notice.
Every year there seems to be another story about the dangers of hazing, but what exactly is hazing? Hazing is defined as “any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.”
Fraternity hazing is any activity that takes place in fraternities on college campuses.
There are laws against hazing depending on what state the hazing occurred in. Currently, there are 44 states that have laws against hazing including Indiana, while six do not. However, the laws vary from state to state, and hazing charges can range from a misdemeanor to a felony.
Hazing has been linked to deaths. There has been at least one university hazing death each year from 1969 to 2021. Over 200 university hazing deaths have occurred since 1838, with 40 deaths between 2007 and 2017 alone. Alcohol poisoning is the biggest cause of death. 82% percent of deaths from hazing involve alcohol.
The first recorded incident of hazing involving sexual abuse occurred in 1983. Other hazing incidents involving sexual intimidation, nudity, or stimulation, have been increasing in their frequency since 1995.
According to IU’s list of organizations on disciplinary status Kappa Stigman was also issued a cease and desist order on August 15 for hazing.
General Statistics:
- More than half of college students are involved in some form of campus hazing.
- In 95% of hazing cases, students who were aware they were hazed did not report it.
- In 25% of hazing cases, coaches or advisors who were aware of hazing incidents did not report it.
- For every 10 students being hazed, only one of them realizes that they have been hazed.
- In more than half of the hazing incidents, a member of the offending group posts pictures on a public web space.
- Students are more likely to be hazed if they know an adult who was hazed.
Delta Upsilon was issued a suspension of all new member recruitment, education, activities, or events by IU effective May 5, 2023, until further notice for hazing.
Alpha Phi entered into a voluntary agreement effective April 17, 2023, through December 16, 2023. The voluntary agreement with the Office of Student Conduct is to resolve a matter regarding Alcohol, Endangering Others, and Hazing.
Chi Phi entered into a voluntary agreement effective August 23, 2023, through December 17, 2023. The voluntary agreement with the Office of Student Conduct is to resolve a matter regarding Alcohol, Endangering Others, and Non-compliance with OSFL policies.
The following fraternities on disciplinary status:
Pi Kappa Alpha
- Disciplinary Probation Extension
(Hazing, Alcohol, Endangering Others, Non-Compliance with OSFL Policies
July 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023 - Extended Elevated Disciplinary Probation
effective April 19, 2023, through December 31, 2023 (Alcohol) - Disciplinary Probation effective January 1, 2024, through May 31, 2024 (Alcohol)
Sigma Alpha Mu
- Disciplinary Probation
Endangering Others, Alcohol
December 19, 2022 through December 17, 2023
- Sigma Phi Epsilon: Restriction of Social Events effective January 17, 2023 through September 5, 2023 (Hazing)
- Disciplinary Probation Extension May 6, 2023 through December 15, 2023 (Hazing)
- Theta Chi: Elevated Disciplinary Probation effective March 10, 2023, through March 11, 2024 (Hazing)
- Disciplinary Probation effective March 12, 2024 through September 15, 2024 (Hazing)
- Social Restrictions effective March 10, 2023, through October 1, 2023 (Hazing)
- Zeta Beta Tau: Disciplinary Probation effective December 19, 2022, through September 8, 2023 (Alcohol, non-compliance with OSFL policies)
- Disciplinary Probation effective December 19, 2022, through May 11, 2023 (Alcohol, non-compliance with OSFL policies)
- Elevated Disciplinary Probation effective May 10, 2023 through May 11, 2023 (Hazing)
- Disciplinary Probation effective May 12, 2023 through December 31, 2024 (Hazing)
