Penn State’s Acacia Fraternity Suspended for Alleged Mandatory Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption, “Acts of Servitude”
There continues to be a Happy Valley-sized gulf between universities’ expectations of fraternities and the ages-old traditions that fraternities continue to embrace. Behaviors that many universities once turned a blind eye to have become common grounds for the discipline of individuals and organizations alike.
Penn State’s Acacia fraternity is one of the latest organizations to face severe sanctions in response to allegations we typically call “hazing.” However, Greek life veterans might simply refer to these allegations as “pledge life.”
Before reading further, know that you should call the LLF National Law Firm Education Law Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online if you or your student faces any type of discipline in a university setting, including allegations of wrongdoing as a Greek life member.
Breaking News: Penn State Frat Accused of Treating Pledges Poorly
We are not necessarily saying it was a better time. Still, there was an era when virtually everyone knew that pledges would endure distasteful rites of passage before being admitted as fraternity members. Over time, though, universities like Penn State have become less tolerant of and more vigilant about the tradition of requiring pledges to earn their stripes.
The allegations levied by Penn State’s Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response (OSACR) against the Acacia fraternity include:
- Alcohol and tobacco consumption by fraternity members requiring medical treatment
- “Acts of servitude”
While nobody wants to see students in danger due to alcohol use, excessive alcohol consumption and “acts of servitude” will elicit shock in exactly nobody who has been admitted to a fraternity at a major American university.
Acacia was ultimately hit with serious, long-term sanctions after negotiations for a “reformative process” broke down. The chapter voluntarily withdrew its recognition from Penn State University, yet the school decided to suspend the fraternity for a minimum of four years.
Universities Will Continue to Crack Down on Greek Organizations
Penn State’s suspension of the Acacia fraternity means members are now prohibited from accessing specific university spaces, cannot participate in certain activities like homecoming, and cannot receive health and safety training.
Think about that: A fraternity accused of endangering its members is punished by…not having access to health and safety training. This is precisely the sort of nonsensical sanctions that our firm aims to help universities think twice about.
We won’t cast any moral judgments about how fraternities have initiated their members for centuries. With many high-profile stories of pledges suffering fatal health complications in hazing-related circumstances, it’s understandable for administrators to take the issue seriously.
However, we can’t lose sight of the line between taking the issue seriously and sanctioning Greek life participants in a draconian, almost malicious manner—yet, as attorneys who defend students, we know that administrators too often have anti-Greek bias that bleeds into the disciplinary process.
A Strong Defense Is the Bulwark Against Heavy-Handed Discipline
Actions have consequences. If a fraternity or sorority is found responsible of misconduct, and there is evidence proving as much, some type of discipline might be inevitable.
That being said, there are many cases of totally baseless discipline against fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations and individuals. The LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team advocates for students in each of these cases.
Call the LLF National Law Firm Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online if you or your student are facing potential discipline of any kind.