UK Students sound-off after Phi Kappa Psi suspension

Grace Watts lives across the street from the Phi Kappa Psi House.

ABC 36 News asked her if she was surprised when she heard about the fraternity’s five year suspension.

Watts says, “No, not surprised, kinda known as the party boys or…I guess you said animal frat house.”

Graduate student Kalen Wright says “I’ve heard about these stories before, but it was disappointing, nevertheless. It’s really unsafe these kind of practices they were doing.”

But to other students on campus the suspension was news to them.

Graduate student Jesse Houk says “You don’t think that this would happen on UK’s campus, especially within the Greek life. Because there is such great Greek life on University of Kentucky’s campus, so it comes as a bit of a surprise.”

After anonymous reports from students the Dean of Students Office launched an investigation into the fraternity citing multiple violations of the university’s alcohol policy, hazing, and disorderly drunken behavior.

University of Kentucky Spokesman Jay Blanton says “These kind of actions….it’s our expectation that it’s the exception, not the rule. But when it happens it has to be dealt with in a swift and decisive manner.”

The fraternity is being tight lipped but in a meeting with student conduct, it admitted to allegations  such as forcing new members to drink to the point of vomiting, not allowing them to return to their room to shower, and forcing some to watch gay porn.

Wright says, “You’re forcing a feeling of alienation upon students and I just feel like that goes completely against what a fraternity and Greek life is supposed to be about.”

Grace doesn’t have high hops for her new neighbors but thinks the school took the appropriate action.

Watts says, “We’ll see how it goes. I don’t really have high expectations one way or the other but I think they did the right thing.”

Neighbors across the street tell me many of the fraternity members were packing up all this morning, some are still packing up today. Most have to be out by May 7th. Graduating seniors have one extra day. The latest they will be here is May 8th.

No word if any fraternity members will be suspended, since the university spokesman says revealing those details would be against federal education guidelines.

In five years Phi Kappa Psi does have the opportunity to come back and reapply as a UK chapter if it complies with the university’s restorative action plan.