Georgia College suspends 2 fraternities on hazing allegations. What we know
Two fraternities at Georgia College & State University have been placed on an interim suspension due to alleged alcohol and hazing violations, school officials said.
The suspensions of Kappa Alpha Order and Kappa Sigma are pending the outcomes of investigations conducted by an external law enforcement agency, Georgia College and State University President Cathy Cox announced on Sept. 26 in a campus-wide email about the suspensions.
School officials initially said that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting the probe into the allegations, but the GBI told The Telegraph that the Milledgeville Police Department is handling the case.
Major Brandon Sellers with Milledgeville police said its criminal investigations division is investigating the allegations that were referred to local police by the university’s department of public safety.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and it would be inappropriate to provide further details at this time,” Sellers said in an email on Wednesday. “I can confirm that no allegations of physical harm have been made. Our detectives are working to determine what else may have occurred. We are being assisted by both the GCSU Department of Public Safety and the Office of the President, who have provided resources and information as requested.”
No additional information will be released until the investigation has been completed.
Amanda Respess, director of news and media relations for GCSU, echoed that no student injuries or hospitalizations have been reported as of Wednesday morning.
“An interim suspension is standard protocol whenever an external agency investigates a Greek organization. This allows the investigation to proceed while limiting potential risks to students,” Respess said. “The interim suspension remains in place until the external investigation is complete and the university has reviewed any findings under the Bobcat Code, our student code of conduct.”
Cox said once the external agency’s investigation is complete, university officials will review the findings to determine whether there is evidence of violations under the GCSU’s student code of conduct, “which is built upon the core values of reason, respect and responsibility.”
Amid investigation, the two fraternities are prohibited from engaging in any group activities, including holding meetings and social events, conducting operations, participating in intramural sports or performing community service, Cox continued in the statement.
Hazing in Georgia is a criminal offense under the Max Gruver Act, which became law in 2021.
The university’s anti-hazing policy defines hazing as “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that— (i) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation or connection with, the maintenance of membership in, or any other condition or precondition connected to a student organization or school organization; and (ii) causes or creates a risk.”
Examples of hazing include but are not limited to, any type of physical brutality, coercing and sleep deprivation. Violations of this policy may result in both student conduct disciplinary action and/or criminal charges.
School officials say student safety remains Georgia College’s top priority, as the university takes allegations of student misconduct seriously.
School officials encourage any victims of hazing or other alleged violations to report such activity to the GCSU online portal for incident reports.