Investigation of possible Pi Kappa Alpha abuse continues
There is no police investigation; however, the USF chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha (PKA) fraternity is still being investigated by the University and PKA Memorial Headquarters.
PKA’s chapter adviser Donald Post said the fraternity is not being investigated by any outside police agencies, yet still faces investigations by the University Police Department, the USF Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, the USF Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and PKA Memorial Headquarters.
“Toward the end of the day” Thursday, the University was notified that several members of the fraternity allegedly abused another member off campus, University spokesman Michael Hoad said.
The chapter was then temporarily suspended, pending the outcome of the investigations.
“Whenever we get an alleged violation of the code of conduct or anything we feel would endanger students, we reserve the right to do a provisional suspension of the organization or the student pending the initial investigation of what we find,” Dean of Students Kevin Banks said. “That’s what we’re in right now.”
Banks said the duration of the investigation will depend on what information is discovered, yet could last three to five days.
“We hold student organizations accountable through our organizational code of conduct and individuals are held accountable by the student code of conduct,” he said. “Once we review the matter we will decide if it’s going to be organizational and individual.”
Banks said the University will be looking into whether or not the act was a form of hazing. The University’s anti-hazing policy is applicable to incidents on and off campus and covers “any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student.”
Hoad said the victim was already a member of the fraternity and therefore was not being initiated. However, he said in an email that hazing “could include behavior outside of initiation.”
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