KU frat issued cease-and-desist order was praised for largest pledge class in years
A University of Kansas fraternity that was issued a cease-and-desist order from KU’s chancellor was recently commended for reporting its largest pledge class in years.
In a public statement posted Sunday, Chancellor Douglas Girod issued a cease and desist order for Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Psi, citing violations of health guidelines as students return to campus amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this month, the Kappa Sigma fraternity’s national page posted a photo commending this year’s KU pledges.
“Our Gamma-Omicron Chapter at the University of Kansas (Kappa Sigma at the University of Kansas) just proved that “Brotherhood Can’t Be Quarantined” by reporting their largest pledge class since 2014,” the post read in part.
The same chapter made headlines over the weekend after a video of an angry exchange between a Lawrence motorist and Kappa Sigma members went viral.
The video shows the motorist, Jacob Schooler, exchange words with students and a woman outside a fraternity house after, Schooler says, he mistakenly pulled into their driveway and one of the group threw an alcoholic drink into his car.
“This behavior is unacceptable at any time during a pandemic, getting liquids from a cup that you have been drinking out of thrown into someone’s face, that is so incredibly scary,” Schooler told The Star on Sunday.
The Gamma-Omicron chapter of Kappa Sigma released a statement Sunday on Facebook in which they said they’d not yet “validated” Schooler’s statement that a beverage was thrown on him, though they offered an apology if true.
The Facebook page appeared to have been taken down by Monday morning.
“When confronted by our membership for maintaining his presence on private property, he became hostile, used aggressive language, and threatened to run over our members,” the now-missing statement read of Schooler.
The fraternity identified the men in the background of the video as residents of the chapter’s house. They said, in keeping with university guidelines, no outside guests are allowed on the property. All residents previously tested negative for coronavirus, they added.
The group was gathered outside to welcome new sorority pledges to KU, the statement continued. The university previously advised students “avoid large gatherings.”
“While it is regrettable that this incident occurred, it is equally regrettable that individuals have subsequently chosen to invade the privacy of law-abiding individuals residing on their property, including inflicting property damage upon our house this morning ...” the statement reads.
They identify the woman engaging with Schooler in the video as their house director who makes sure the house is sanitized twice a day and that members are complying with health orders, they said.
“For those who stand to stifle the academic and personal growth of young people in 2020, we stand in firm opposition to that mindset and support fully the academic endeavors of our membership as they grow into the leaders of tomorrow,” the fraternity leaders wrote.
The local Kappa Sigma chapter could not be reached Monday morning.
KU’s Interfraternity Council and Panhellinic Council, which govern the school’s Greek houses, did not immediately respond to The Star’s request for comment.
However, KU Interfraternity Council President Joe Davidson announced Friday on Twitter that they were issuing a temporary moratorium on all social events, as they are “not considered in the best interest of the community.”
This includes outdoor recruitment events and any situation in which an outside observer “would likely perceive the event as a sponsored organization,” the release reads.
On Thursday, the university announced that 89 people, all but two of whom were students, tested positive for COVID-19 at its Lawrence and Edwards campuses, according to initial results. The majority of the positive tests came from the college’s fraternity and sorority community, university officials said at the time.
Girod said he and other campus officials met with leaders of KU’s fraternities and sororities to stress the need to follow health and safety guidelines, though what those policies are weren’t specified in Girod’s public statement.
A 14-day public health ban has been issued for members of each fraternity. The Star requested further information on the cease-and-desist order, as Girod’s statement did not specify what the fraternities must stop doing.
“Pending the outcome of a formal hearing, any events, programs, or activities not explicitly approved by the University of Kansas Sorority and Fraternity Life office and/or headquarters are to cease immediately,” Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a KU spokeswoman, said in an emailed statement Monday. “Continuing any such unsanctioned event(s) will be cause for disciplinary action.”
On Sunday, the chancellor emphasized that students must keep the well-being of all the whole university community in mind when making decisions.
“We will not tolerate selfish and irresponsible behavior that puts the health and safety of our community at risk; that disrespects staff, faculty and students who have worked to prepare our campuses for reopening; that jeopardizes the long-term viability of the university; and that recklessly disregards the authorities of the university, city, and county,” Girod wrote.
This story was originally published August 24, 2020 at 12:42 PM.
