Meghan Holden

Journal & Courier

Editor's note: A previous online version of this article incorrectly referred to the Chi Chapter of Kappa Sigma as Kappa Sigma Chi.

The Chi Chapter of Kappa Sigma is suing Purdue University, alleging the school unfairly sanctioned its chapter.

The university didn't allow the campus fraternity to fully defend itself against claims that an underage student was served alcohol at its chapter house last winter, according to a complaint Kappa Sigma and its house corporation filed last Friday in Tippecanoe Circuit Court.

"We didn’t have a fair chance at explaining ourselves and we thought (the university's) decision had already been decided before we got a chance to explain," former chapter President Adam Hoffard said.

Purdue declined to comment on the case but is currently examining it, spokesperson Brian Zink said via email Wednesday.

In September, Purdue's Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities investigated an incident involving an underage, intoxicated student and then alleged the chapter was responsible for serving the student at a function on Feb. 20, 2015, the complaint says. The chapter denies any involvement with the student and said it did not host a social function that night.

The fraternity didn't register to host a party that night because many of its members were at sorority functions, Hoffard said, which he claimed the group proved to the university. Hoffard said the chapter always registers its parties.

Purdue or frats: Who's policing unregistered parties?

Kappa Sigma requested the names of members who were allegedly involved and the name of the witnesses making or supporting the accusations, according to the complaint. The university allegedly denied those requests.

The chapter was allegedly prevented from examining witnesses, though none came forward or were identified, at a hearing held by the Interfraternity Council in October.

When asked to speak about the case on behalf of the council, Brandon Cutler, director of Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life and associate dean of students, said he had no comment.

The fraternity was sanctioned on the day of the hearing. It unsuccessfully appealed the disciplinary action shortly afterward on the basis that no witnesses testified on the claims. The chapter then requested documents related to the incident and the university sent redacted documents without the names of witnesses or the underage student, the complaint alleges.

The university allegedly expressed concerns about giving out students' educational records. The fraternity said it wants the witnesses' names involved in the investigation, not the educational records.

Kappa Sigma is seeking damages and is asking the university be required to provide all records, including the names and addresses of witnesses, involved with the investigation. It's also asking the school be restrained from further enforcing any related sanctions imposed on the chapter until the documents have been produced and addressed by the court.

The fraternity is on probation until next May due to the sanction, which puts the chapter in a negative light, Hoffard said.

He said he hopes the case results in a revamped disciplinary system that allows accused Greek organizations to be given more information on any accusations brought against them so they can know all the facts and correct any actions or individual's actions if needed.