FSU's Theta Nu Xi multicultural sorority chapter under review following hazing allegations

Byron Dobson | Tallahassee Democrat

The status of the Theta Nu Xi sorority chapter at Florida State University is in limbo following allegations of hazing this semester.

In October, the Division of Student Affairs informed the chapter it was in violation of the Student Organization Conduct Code.

The chapter awaits a ruling after undergoing a hearing before the Student Conduct Board.

“They were charged with violating the Student Conduct Code,” Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht said following last week’s Board of Trustees meeting.

The report involving Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority is one of five related to hazing or alcohol violations this fall involving Greek-letter organizations at Florida State University..

An update on Greek activity was part of Hecht's board update.

“The status of the chapter remains recognized pending outcome of the Student Organization conduct hearing process,” Hecht said Monday in an email.

The infractions occurred off campus between Sept. 16 to Sept. 17 and targeted women pledging the sorority, according to a summary obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat.

“Specifically, your organization allegedly called aspirants’ cell phones excessively in a rapid, successive matter which deprived aspirant members of sleep,” the report says. “Allegedly, these phone calls required aspirant members to complete a request or recite information about your organization to other members.”

If the pledges did not know the information, “they were verbally degraded by other members,” according to the report.

In addition, the pledges allegedly were required to “recite the Greek alphabet forward and backward in one breath.”

“These alleged activities caused an unreasonable disruption of peace and sleep to the aspirant members.”

Hazing includes subjecting a person to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of a person, according to university policy.

The allegations were reported through an online portal where students and parents are encouraged to report hazing incidents.

Theta Nu Xi is one of 10 organizations within the university’s Multicultural Greek Council. It has 10 active members in its FSU chapter.

“Theta Nu Xi takes all hazing allegations seriously and we do not confirm, deny, or discuss alleged incidents in order to maintain integrity for any potential investigative proceedings,” Ashley Crooks-Allen, director of communications for the sorority’s national office, said in an email.

Greek system in the spotlight:

"Hold them accountable"

The university has instituted several policies and guidelines to eliminate hazing following the Nov. 3, 2017 death of Pi Kappa Phi pledge Andrew Coffey, who died at an off-campus fraternity party after drinking a bottle of bourbon.

New policies include mandatory orientation sessions for those seeking Greek membership; a 2.5 GPA requirement, mandatory participation in risk management training, a renewed focus on health and safety and the creation of a Scorecard, making Greek chapter activities more transparent than ever before.

Despite those efforts, several incidents of hazing have been reported this semester at FSU.

In late October, the Beta Iota chapter of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity was shut down by its national office following new allegations of hazing.

Phi Kappa Tau is one of four members of the Interfraternity Council at FSU suspended this fall.

Others include Kappa Sigma, which was suspended Oct. 14 following allegations of hazing; Delta Tau Delta, for allegations of hazing, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon, suspended Sept. 27 for alleged alcohol violations.

All are on interim restricted status suspensions pending investigation by the university. Interim restricted suspension means the chapters are not allowed to operate as a fraternity at FSU and must cease all chapter operations and activities.

“We must hold them accountable,” Ed Burr, chairman of the FSU Board of Trustees, said last week. “It’s frustrating to see what happened this semester. We want to see Greek life thrive at Florida State University.”

FSU President John Thrasher told trustees, “we will not tolerate hazing.”

He said measures have been taken to address hazing and that many Greek organizations are involved in positive work on campus and in the community.

“The culture is changing,” Thrasher said. “I don’t want to throw the fraternity system out. We have to continue to work with them.”

Contact senior writer Byron Dobson at bdobson@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @byrondobson.