The national organization of Lambda Chi Alpha voted to suspend operations of the Epsilon Alpha chapter at the College of William and Mary effective April 29 following several allegations of hazing.
According to the national organization, the chapter is banned from displaying the fraternity’s emblems and symbols and cannot gather in the name of Lambda Chi Alpha.
The announcement follows a semester of investigations into the chapter’s procedures. In March, the chapter was placed on interim suspension following allegations involving alcohol which resulted in probation, the loss of on-campus fraternity housing and a review of the chapter’s policies. The suspension was lifted April 3, but on April 4, the Office of Student Conduct received a report of alleged hazing that occurred earlier in the year.
The chapter accepted responsibility for the charges and the College suspended Epsilon Alpha until at least spring 2018. The chapter was notified from the national organization on April 29 that national’s closed the chapter.
According to a press release from the College, the second report of hazing on April 4 detailed a long-standing practice of the chapter which included organized hazing activities that involved forced calisthenics and a marathon run lasting six hours, often throughout the night.
“William & Mary is dedicated to being a home without hazing for all students — no student should be demeaned or exposed to harm in order to belong, whether to a fraternity or to any other student club or organization,” Ginger Ambler ’88 M.Ed. ’06 said in a press release. “We are proud to be the birthplace of the American college fraternity, and the College seeks to advance the highest and historic values of fraternity and sorority life. Acts of hazing are wholly inconsistent with those values and have no place in our community.”
The College issued a “Memorandum of Understanding,” stating the intent of the College and the national organization to bring the fraternity back to campus after spring 2018.
“Unfortunately, we are unable to offer the proper undergraduate experience at this time,” Director of Chapter Services for Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Nick Zuniga said in a press release. “We greatly value the Epsilon-Alpha alumni at W&M and our collaborative relationship with the university. We look forward to our return to campus.”
