The day Ginger Ambler ’88 Ph.D. ‘06 accepted the $10,000 check from HazingPrevention.org on behalf of the College of William and Mary for the Zeta Tau Alpha Award for Innovation in Campus Hazing Prevention and Education, Dean of Students Patricia Volp issued an interim suspension of operations for the Epsilon Alpha chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
“To me, this just demonstrates that nobody fixes everything, and we have continued work to do [on hazing prevention],” Director of Student Leadership Development Anne Arseneau ’89 M.Ed. ‘92 said.
Arseneau and Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct Dave Gilbert stated the pending suspension depends on the outcome of an investigation of serious misconduct that occurred last week and allegedly involved alcohol and possible hazing. An interim suspension prohibits the chapter from holding meetings. Arseneau stated this condition is applied when the health and welfare of an organization’s members are involved. The interim suspension will remain until the matter is resolved or the dean of students lifts the suspension.
Within ten minutes of the interim suspension, the national fraternity also placed the chapter on limited operations. The national fraternity office failed to comment by press time.
Earlier this semester, the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity was found guilty of hazing in a December incident, resulting in its ineligibility for Special Interest Housing and consequently, the loss of its place in the new fraternity complex.
“Any serious violation has the potential to impact an organization’s eligibility for Special Interest Housing,” Gilbert said in an email when asked if the interim suspension could affect Lambda Chi Alpha’s eligibility.
“We are working closely with the Dean of Students Office and our National Headquarters to resolve this matter as quickly and smoothly as possible,” Epsilon Alpha fraternity president Jake Prest ’14 said in an email.