West Virginia University’s Office of Student Activities today (Feb. 9) suspended two fraternities – Kappa Alpha and Pi Kappa Alpha – for reported fire code violations (exceeding occupancy limits) during events that occurred over the weekend.

In addition, one Kappa Alpha member was cited for obstructing a fire official and one member from each fraternity was cited with the overcrowding charge.

The action was taken Monday afternoon, following notification from the Morgantown Fire Department, while an investigation into both incidents takes place. Both fraternities’ national offices will also be notified.

A moratorium previously placed on Greek activities in November had been lifted last week for fraternities and sororities that met certain criteria related to recruitment, social activities and educational programming under a Greek Community Improvement Plan.

“The Office of Student Activities implemented very strict rules, recently established by our Greek leadership, related to the lifting of the moratorium around social and recruitment activities,” said Dean of Students Corey Farris. “Unfortunately, those steps were not followed by these two groups, and they have been placed on immediate suspension from all activities. I join the administration and many student leaders in our profound disappointment.”

Farris added that a member of Kappa Alpha reportedly obstructed and threatened a fire official and encouraged others to form a human chain around the front entry.

“That kind of inexcusable behavior will not be tolerated,” Farris said, “and students found in violation of the law will be subject to discipline under our student code of conduct. As we have said, we are committed to a culture change on this campus.”

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Jonathan Thurston, president of WVU’s Interfraternity Council, expressed his concern for the weekend events in a statement:

“We were disappointed to receive information that two of our fraternities, Kappa Alpha and Pi Kappa Alpha, were cited for reported fire code violations over the weekend,” Thurston said. “The Interfraternity Council will be investigating these incidents, and will move swiftly to take each fraternity through the judicial process so that due process is held for each organization involved. We also want to make sure the conduct issues at hand are met with the appropriate disciplinary actions. The Office of Student Activities will be notified and approve the course of action determined by the IFC Judicial Board.”

Thurston added, “The IFC takes very seriously its role in working with the University to address such issues and to change the culture at WVU. This appears to be a clear disregard of the IFC guidelines recently put in place. We will continue to work with our fraternities and the University so that we create the best environment for our Greek students.”

-WVU-

02/09/15

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