The University of Virginia has cancelled the fraternity agreement of another campus fraternity, Theta Chi, after an investigation uncovered distressing hazing incidents that took place earlier this year. This action marks the second fraternity at U.Va. to have its fraternity agreement terminated, following Pi Kappa Alpha which was terminated earlier in the year. The university disclosed that two other fraternities, Sigma Alpha Mu and Pi Lambda Phi, are currently under investigation.
The university released a report that outlined specific instances of hazing that had not been disclosed previously. The report detailed that new members at Theta Chi in the spring semester were subjected to ridicule, verbal harassment, and were made to run errands for existing members. New members were also forced to ingest a variety of food and non-food items, including a mixture of unidentified items and habanero peppers during lineups at the chapter house, leading to vomiting and loss of limb sensation.
At Pi Kappa Alpha, the newly revealed hazing incidents were even more alarming. The report revealed that new members were blindfolded, stripped down to their underwear, and physically assaulted on their face and chest. They were also coerced into consuming cat food and other unpleasant substances, with some having hot sauce applied to their genitals. One member was described as having their arms taped to a wooden cross, then being compelled to ingest a blend of cottage cheese and hot sauce and having hot sauce applied to their body, including their genitals.
Both Theta Chi and Pi Kappa Alpha are barred from seeking reinstatement until 2028 at the earliest, as per the university’s decision. The international headquarters of both organizations did not respond to email requests for comment. The state of Virginia implemented anti-hazing legislation and a nearly $1 million settlement payment to the family of Adam Oakes, a Virginia Commonwealth University student, who tragically died in 2021 following a fraternity hazing incident.
