UK suspends Sigma Chi Fraternity for policy violations

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — The University of Kentucky has suspended the Sigma Chi Fraternity due to school policy violations.

UK spokesperson Jay Blanton says the chapter is suspended for one year and is not allowed to operate or be active on campus.

An incident report from the Office of Student Conduct says the suspension comes after the chapter violated the university’s drug, alcohol, and property policies.

The letter says Sigma Chi’s president accepted responsibility for a party in May, where a pledge class had alcohol and drugs and property was stolen from a date party.

The report notes another incident where a Sigma Chi member posted a picture on social media holding a bottle of alcohol at a tailgate at Keeneland.

The fraternity hadn’t properly registered for the event to the university like it’s required to do if alcohol is involved.

On UK’s website Sigma Chi isn’t listed as one of its 22 fraternities and its homepage has been removed.

UK student and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity member Doug Jefferson says he can’t believe the news.

“I’m cool with a bunch of the guys so hearing that they violated the school policy is shocking,” Jefferson says. “I heard that they only have a few days to move out of the house so that is really terrible.”

Blanton confirms members living in the fraternity house at the corner of Pennsylvania and Columbia Avenue have to find someplace else to live.

The university’s Interfraternity Council recruitment guide shows Sigma Chi did participate in the 2018 fall recruitment which is currently going on.

Jefferson says he’s sure a bunch of guys wanted to go Sigma Chi and now they can’t.

UK’s fraternity recruitment finishes up this weekend and bids will be given out Saturday.

The chapter was on probation from the beginning of the 2016 spring semester until the fall 2017 semester.

The UK student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, says this was due to alcohol and hazing violations.

It’s unclear if that was a factor in the university’s decision this time.