Kappa Sigma fraternity faces internal, campus police investigation

David Ryan Palmer

Editor-in-Chief

The McNeese chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity has been instructed to suspend all operations due to an investigation into alleged hazing, according to multiple sources.

McNeese Police Chief Robert Spinks and Director of Campus Life Kedric Nicholas told the Contraband on Thursday that Kappa Sigma’s recruiting, meeting, induction and all other on campus efforts must stop while the investigation is ongoing.

As of press time, details regarding the hazing allegations and the investigation itself are sparse. “There is an ongoing investigation regarding reports of hazing that was brought to our attention, which we take very seriously,” Spinks said.  

“We’ve notified the other appropriate university officials,” he continued, including a memo to the Provost of the University.

According to Nicholas, Kappa Sigma received a letter from the national organization.  “The McNeese Chapter of Kappa Sigma has received a Cease and Desist Notification from their national office, which has suspended their internal operations as a chapter,” Nicholas said.

“Communications were made by unknown sources to their national office alleging that the chapter has conducted hazing activities,” he added.

The identity of these unknown sources were not disclosed to the Contraband by the police or by Nicholas’ office.

The investigation, which is proceeding over the Halloween weekend and may continue into next week or beyond, does not necessarily indicate that the fraternity is guilty of hazing.  “We all should understand that Greek organizations are frequently large targets for false accusations due to personal dissatisfactions for a multitude of reasons,” Nicholas said.

Greek Unity Board president Dylan Benoit had no comment on the investigation when asked on Wednesday.  Minutes after asking for a statement from Benoit, a male opened the door to the newspaper office and abruptly asked who the Contraband editor was.  After getting the editor’s name, the male left.

Nicholas was emphatic that while his office has received anonymous notifications of illegal activities, his office has “thoroughly investigated any claims that we have received,” he said.

“No one has formally approached me stating that any specific organization, including Kappa Sigma, has conducted hazing activities or any other operations of misconduct.”

McNeese Chief of Police Robert Spinks said that his office is conducting their own independent  investigation.

McNeese’s hazing policy (found at mcneese.edu/policy/hazing_policy) defines hazing as “any activity sponsored by or any method of initiation into a group, team or organization which is likely to cause, or does cause mental or physical discomfort or embarrassment, or places any person into demeaning or physically dangerous situation.”  The policy goes on to list 17 different kinds of activities which would be considered hazing, though it notes that this list is not exhaustive.

The policy reads: “Violations of the Anti-Hazing Policy should be reported to the Office of Student Services or University Police for appropriate disciplinary action. Infractions of these regulations will result in disciplinary procedures being initiated according to the regulations prescribed in the University's Code of Student Conduct. Violations of law will be handled in accordance with the criminal court system.”

Regardless of Kappa Sigma’s internal restrictions, life on Greek Row (and for those fraternities and sororities not on Greek Row) will continue as normal, Nicholas said.

“Kappa Sigma’s situation does not impact Greek Life at all.  Their investigation is internal as well as their suspension, which is likely to be temporary. Greek Life will continue serving McNeese students and the local community as it always has.  Unless their organization or any other organization for that matter are found guilty of illegal actions, we have no grounds to change their active status on campus.”

The Contraband would like to solicit any information regarding hazing or misconduct at any of the fraternities or sororities, either on campus or off campus.  All sources will be anonymous, though simple notes dropped off at the Contraband’s office that cannot be independently corroborated cannot be used in future stories.  Our phone number is 337-475-5646, our email is msucontraband@gmail.com, and you can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/mcneesestudentpublications.