In December 2022, the University of Utah terminated its recognition of its branch of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. However, Baylor Biedermann, the fraternity’s president, told the Salt Lake Tribune the U reached out in November 2023 and told him they were ready for Kappa Sigma to return.
In February 2024, harassment was reported near the fraternity house. Now, this fall semester, Kappa Sigma has been permitted to resume activities.
Kappa Sigma has repeatedly shown it is unwilling to be a positive member of our campus community. Reinstatement puts other students’ safety at risk and damages the reputation of the U. We must stop allowing corrupt fraternities to operate on our campus.
The Events
Kappa Sigma’s termination came after the fraternity hosted philanthropy events during a period when all Greek life activity was suspended by the U. The Salt Lake City Police Department launched an investigation after reports of sexual assault on Greek Row during the 2021-22 school year. In addition, the university ordered a moratorium on all fraternity and sorority activity during that time. It is reported one of these incidents occurred during a “Wine Wednesday” event at Kappa Sigma.
A letter from the U outlining its termination revealed Kappa Sigma leadership admitted they violated their suspension in part because they were “anxious about the length of time the University took to investigate claims of sexual assault and alcohol use.”
In this same letter, a fraternity leader allegedly told Matthew Phister, the director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at the U, “I’m still not shutting it down, I don’t really care.” when reminded of the suspension of activities.
Kappa Sigma’s recognition was not terminated because of the reported assault that occurred at its event. We must ask why the U administration did not shut them down because of the reported assault. It seems there is a lack of serious care for the urgent issue of assault from both the U and Kappa Sigma.
We Need Serious Consequences
According to the U’s Title IX policy, in the event of sexual misconduct “the university will take steps to end or eliminate the hostile environment, prevent its recurrence and to remedy the effects, as appropriate under each individual’s circumstances.”
However, after multiple reports of sexual assault, the U did not permanently terminate fraternities that perpetuated this misconduct.
Rather, the only instances that have incited action besides brief probation have been alcohol violations and hazing allegations.
Sexual assault reports should not face less serious consequences than alcohol charges and hazing. When the U gives multiple chances to institutions after facing assault reports, it sends the message that preventing sexual violence is not a priority. This pushes to the side one of the most prevalent and under-reported crimes that disproportionately affect female students.
Not the First Time
This is not the first time Kappa Sigma faced termination.
Its recognition was first revoked in 2002, when the fraternity faced national scrutiny from its parent organization as well as from the university due to a keg party that led to over 50 alcohol violations, including 40 underage drinking charges. This was the first time in over 90 years of Greek Life the U had revoked a fraternity charter.
Yet now they have another shot to, as Vice President for Student Affairs Lori McDonald said in 2022, “demonstrate that they are ready to operate in good faith.”
We can only wonder how many more chances the U will allow Kappa Sigma. Many more terrible things may occur before Kappa Sigma faces true consequences for its actions.
Back to the Status Quo
Failing to adequately address instances of violence has dangerous effects. These effects are already being felt by marginalized students on campus.
Within seven months prior to its reinstatement, Kappa Sigma faced allegations of homophobic harassment.
“On Feb. 3, 2024, an individual was walking to their car near the northern side of campus. As the person got into their car, a group of unidentified individuals driving by reversed their vehicle and yelled a homophobic slur out the window before driving off,” a report filed to the Racist and Bias Incident Team stated.
After this report was filed, multiple students took to Instagram, alleging the incident took place outside Kappa Sigma house. The students alleged it was perpetrated by fraternity brothers who were seen walking directly out of the frat house.
“Some details may be withheld or anonymized to protect the victims or surrounding offices or organizations from retaliation or stigma. In this case, the committee determined that listing the address could potentially identify the victim,” the Office of Equal Opportunity’s Racist & Bias Incident Response Team stated when asked for confirmation of where this incident took place.
I spoke to Kappa Sigma Vice President Nico Vargas in an email interview.
“Please check with the University of Utah administration on this matter,” Vargas said when asked what steps have been taken to ensure that an incident similar to the instance of assault does not occur again.
Although the Feb. 3 allegations go unconfirmed, a mistrust of Kappa Sigma was demonstrated by various members of the student body following the reported homophobic harassment. This alleged incident is indicative of a pattern and points to a larger problem that has not been resolved.
Kappa Sigma has shown multiple times it does not follow Greek life standards or the requests of the university administration. Our campus, including Greek Row, should be a place where everyone feels safe. After being given multiple chances, Kappa Sigma continues to create a hostile environment, violating the basic safety and comfort that every student is entitled to.
We must ask ourselves as a campus what fraternities such as Kappa Sigma offer to our community. It has proven time and time again that it poses risks to marginalized students and is not worthy of having a place on our campus.
The U must permanently terminate Kappa Sigma.
e.griffee@dailyutahchronicle.com
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