U of A takes action against fraternity accused of hazing

The University of Alberta has taken a rare step and suspended the student group privileges of a fraternity at the centre of a hazing controversy.

The decision comes one week after the the story broke, initially by the university paper The Gateway. It’s alleged to have been taken during a pledge weekend at Delta Kappa Epsilon last January. In one scene, a group of young men is holding paddles. Elsewhere, another group circles around a young man and berates him. Since the story broke last week The Gateway has heard from two more men, one who claims that pledges had to beg for water.

As a fraternity Delta Kappa Epsilon is given certain student group privileges. Those have now been taken away at least on a temporary basis.

That means Delta Kappa Epsilon can’t use the university’s name and insignia, can’t access or rent university property and equipment, can’t use campus facilities to solicit memberships, and will not have access to the university’s institutional liquor and gaming licences while the suspension is in place.

"We’re treating this as a very complex situation involving a lot of our students." Frank Robinson, Dean of Students at the University of Alberta said Thursday. "We take it very seriously. Is it serious? Well, we wouldn’t be doing this if we weren’t taking this seriously."

As for the question "why now"? Robinson says it’s because of concern other students may be harmed, however, the fraternity may appeal. Global News tried to get a comment from Delta Kappa Epsilon, but they have not responded. The suspension does not effect individual students, DKE members can still go to school.