Lehigh University's Sigma Chi fraternity has been placed on interim suspension due to 10 alleged violations of the University Code of Conduct related to the vandalism of UMOJA House in November.

As indicated by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs' blog, the fraternity faces charges for four violations of respect for others, two violations of respect for property, three violations of respect for community and one violation of respect for self, as outlined in the code of conduct.

An email sent by Provost Patrick Farrell to the Lehigh community Tuesday evening stated that both the fraterni- ty and two individual mem- bers of the chapter have been formally charged.

One of the students has been suspended on an in- terim basis, along with the chapter.

According to a statement from Sigma Chi National Fraternity Headquarters' Executive Director Michael Church, the headquarters was made aware of the al- legations against its Lehigh chapter Tuesday.

“We stand ready to assist appropriate authorities in the investigation of the heinous acts that occurred on the campus of Lehigh University on November 6, 2013 at such time when we may be welcome in that investigation process,” he said.

Church said that the national headquarters is not aware of credible evidence that connects Sigma Chi to the UMOJA vandalism.

He added that the head- quarters supports “the efforts underway to bring responsible individuals to account so that justice can prevail.”

There will be a student conduct hearing prior to the last day of classes, which will determine whether those charged are responsible for the alleged violations.

The university will release the final outcome of the hearing to the community.

The administration cannot release the individual identities of the two ac- cused students, in accordance with a federal law regarding the privacy of student records. However, Farrell said in his email that the university “can and will share the outcomes of the con- duct process.”

The alleged actions of the two accused students can affect the conduct status of Sigma Chi because of a provision in the code of conduct that stipu- lates there is no minimum amount of members needed in order for an organization to be charged.

“There is no minimum number of group members who must be involved in an incident before disciplinary action may be taken against the entire group. In some instances, the conduct of a single member may provide suf- ficient grounds for action against the entire group.”

There will be increased security in and around the UMOJA House and the Sigma Chi chapter house for the remainder of the semester, Farrell said.

Story by Brown and White news writer, Becca Bednarz, '15.