Kappa Sigs suspended for auction

Jessica Russell
dm senior Staff writer

The university has suspended the Kappa Sigma fraternity for violating the school's alcohol policy at a Nov. 17 pledge auction that sent five female students to a local hospital.
According to a university press release on Thursday, the fraternity will be on social probation for the rest of the spring semester. In addition, the fraternity will be on administrative probation until Jan. 25, 2001. This means that the fraternity could be subject to further sanctions if it violates any university or Interfraternity Council regulations during this time.
Also, Kappa Sigma officers must undergo training that will be provided by the fraternity regarding event scheduling, risk management and liability issues by May 1. The fraternity is also required to sponsor a philanthropy event by May 1 that will have at least 75 percent chapter participation.
The fraternity was temporarily suspended by the university in November until a university investigation could be completed. After the investigation, the Committee on Student Organizations held a hearing on the matter. University officials would not release the exact date of the hearing.
In addition to the sanctions handed down by the university, Kappa Sigma will also face sanctions from its international office. Joe Murphy, faculty advisor for Kappa Sigma, said any time a chapter violates the international alcohol policy, the chapter's insurance liability premium automatically doubles. The increased insurance rates will cost the fraternity about $9,000 and will continue as long as the chapter is on probation, Murphy said.
The chapter will also undergo an alcohol education program called "My Brother's Keeper" as proscribed by the international office.
More sanctions from the international office may be handed down later, Murphy said.
"They (Kappa Sigma's international office) were waiting until the university released something," Murphy said. "We don't know what additional measures nationals will be taking."

Murphy also said that university police are not pursuing criminal charges against any members of the fraternity.

Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Life Thomas Wallace said that, despite earlier speculations, no drugs were involved at the Nov. 17 party.
"The investigation did show that the fraternity violated the alcohol policy, but lab tests disproved allegations that drugs had been mixed with drinks served to female students," Wallace said.
Murphy said drug testing results released three days after the incident showed that rohypnol or other so-called "date rape" drugs were not involved.
"The university knew the results in three days. We didn't," said Murphy.
Murphy said the fraternity was not made aware of the results from the drug testing until at least one week after school began this semester. Murphy said the delayed release of the test results has allowed for rumors to spread.
"Our reputation has been drug over the coals by innuendo," said Murphy.
The Daily Mississippian has attempted to obtain police incident and log reports related to this incident, but university officials have refused to release the records.