News from the Industry

The parents of more than a dozen students who have died in alleged fraternity hazing incidents gathered for the first time this weekend, traveling from around the country to South Carolina on a mission to prevent future hazing deaths. The anti-hazing retreat included hazing experts and university administrators. The meeting has been covered by TIME, USA Today, The Post and Courier, and The State.

Miami University suspended fraternity activity after several allegations…

News from the Industry

West Virginia University (WVU) placed a moratorium on all social and recruiting activities of the 16 fraternities on campus. WVU is enacting a plan to review and strengthen oversight in the wake of concern over continued behavioral issues. To conduct the review, the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life will establish a working group of students, alumni, and national headquarters partners that will be charged with creating a strategic plan of future Fraternity &…

News from the Industry

Inside Higher Ed reports that The University of Minnesota has proposed a policy that could hold an entire student group accountable if a single member breaks institutional rules. A whole group could also be held responsible if its officers “knew or reasonably should have known” that a group member was going to violate the conduct code at a group event and the leaders didn’t take steps to stop that person from doing so. Students and professors have voiced their concerns…

News from the Industry

News coverage of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) this week included stories by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Business Insider. The Inquirer story highlights NPC efforts announced earlier this month calling for sororities nationwide to drive critical change as schools crack down on drinking, hazing, and other negative behavior. Comments from Carole Jones, NPC Chairman, featured prominently in the Inquirer piece. “Solving these issues is not just for the men’s…

News from the Industry

Coverage continues on the hazing death of a Florida State University student. Nine members of the Phi Kappa Phi fraternity were arrested after a Pi Kappa Phi hopeful, Andrew Coffey, died at a pledge party due to acute alcohol poisoning. Coverage of the arrests has been featured in the Philadelphia Tribune and Daily Beast. University President John Thrasher says he and his staff are working on major changes to prevent future tragedies. The president’s reform initiatives…

News from the Industry

Police announced hazing charges against nine men in the November death of Florida State University fraternity pledge Andrew Coffey. Coffey, 20, died on Nov. 3 after a Pi Kappa Phi “big brother” ritual where he passed out after drinking, according to a Leon County grand jury report released in December. Coffey was found unresponsive the morning after the party, and he had a blood alcohol level of .447 at the time of the autopsy. The grand jury concluded that there was…

I offer some very happy news regarding the Kates family: Maggie just pledged Kappa Alpha Theta at Northwestern University! 

Notes of congratulations may be sent to the following address: Margaret Kates, Room 301,  North Mid-Quads, 650 Emerson St., Evanston, IL 60208.

As you may remember, Amy’s son, Sam, is a high school sophomore. He’s slowly adjusting to his new normal, and looks forward to the spring baseball season. Andy, too, is adjusting to his new normal. The family spent the…

News from the Industry

US News and World Reportand Inside Higher Ed both offer reporting on the “Call for Critical Change” meeting, which the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) launched in Indianapolis this week. Lauren Camera, education reporter for US News, wrote: “Notably, the public indignation [of recent student deaths and hazing incidents] has been aimed squarely at fraternities, not sororities. But sorority leaders have been quick to embrace the notion that their organizations are…