University of Alabama’s Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Kicks Out Members After Investigation
A fraternity on the campus of the University of Alabama has kicked out some of its members after an investigation into their conduct, the Thread learned Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the University confirmed the sanctions and said the University is conducting its own review of the matter, but declined to provide any specifics about the matter Tuesday.
Chatter about the sanctions spiked Monday after a parody Greek Life Instagram account shared a picture of a letter reportedly sent to a member of the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha kicking them out of the fraternity house.
"YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT YOUR HOUSING AGREEMENT WITH THE GAMMA ALPHA CHAPTER OF PI KAPPA ALPHA IS TERMINATED, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," the letter reads.
Sanctioned students are instructed to remove their personal property from the Pi Kappa Alpha House on University Boulevard before 5 p.m. Thursday or see it surrendered to the organization.
A change.org petition was launched Monday seeking to kick the entire fraternity off campus, and it claims the organization "recently just terminated about half of their members due to violent acts."
It is unclear how many Pikes, as the fraternity's members are informally known, received the letters. The University did not confirm if the matter is related to hazing or other violence but did say the measures taken this week do not affect the entire organization.
"Pi Kappa Alpha is not being removed from campus," UA's Assistant Director of Communications Shane Dorrill said in a statement to the Thread. "Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity recently visited campus and made decisions that affect the local chapter. The University respects the decisions of the private member organization to issue any sanctions in keeping with the values of their organization and to maintain their membership standards."
"The UA Office of Student Conduct is currently conducting a review as well, but for privacy reasons, details will not be disclosed," Dorrill said.
He directed questions about the sanctions to Pi Kappa Alpha's national office, but no one within the organization has answered or returned multiple calls from the Thread Tuesday or responded to emailed requests for comment.
This is a developing story -- stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread for more details as they become available.