In light of hazing allegations, the Student Judicial Board at Youngstown State University has suspended the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity for 15 years.
“The decision of the Student Judicial Board sends a clear message across campus and the community that YSU will not tolerate such behavior,” Jack Fahey, vice president for student affairs, said in a released statement. “[YSU] will work to ensure that any student or organization or individual that participates in such behavior is removed from the university.”
After the 15-year suspension, the fraternity can return to campus, but will be on probationary status for the following 10 years. The first five years back, it must meet monthly with a review panel.
The action came after an internal investigation of the hazing that allegedly hospitalized two YSU students.
“The board determined that a YSU student was taken to St. Elizabeth’s Health Center on Feb. 2 with injuries including contusions and a concussion after being the victim of an assault,” the release stated. “A police investigation determined that the beatings were, in fact, part of hazing that occurred at a residence off campus.”
A faculty member, administrator and student compose the board, which determined in a hearing on Monday that fraternity’s pledges were “beaten and hazed over a continual amount of time leading to hospitalization of at least one pledge.”
The statement said the board determined that the fraternity violated sections of the student conduct code, although the specific segments weren’t mentioned.
“The board did its job and took those violations seriously,” said Ron Cole, director of university communications. “I think that the board was very clear in its deliberations.”
