Vice Provost of Student Affairs Kevin Shollenberger announced in an email to students on April 13 that the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, also known as WAWA, has been placed under interim suspension after allegations of hazing and sexual assault.
Reports that Alpha Delta Phi brothers have engaged in hazing practices of new members will be investigated by the Dean of Student Life Office. Hazing is a violation of the Student Conduct Code and the hazing policy upheld by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL).
According to FSL, participation in fraternities and sororities as well as other student groups can enrich a student’s experience at Hopkins. However, FSL’s website adds that hazing is “antithetical to that experience and to the mission of the University.”
In an email to The News-Letter, FSL Director Calvin Smith wrote that the interim suspension will be in place until the investigations for hazing and sexual assault are completed.
He explained how an interim suspension differs from the cease and desist order which accompanied Alpha Delta Phi’s probation in November.
“The interim suspension is an elevated interim measure and indicates a change in status for the organization at the University,” he wrote. “Until further notice the organization is not permitted to function as a registered student organization.”
Smith added that if the University becomes aware of a chapter event, meeting or other activities, including those involving new members, before the conclusion of the misconduct investigations, those additional allegations would be reviewed by the Office of the Dean of Student Life.
“Any further allegations may exacerbate the current investigations, merit a new inquiry for the chapter, and/or result in individual student(s) being charged under the student conduct code,” Smith wrote.
Alpha Delta Phi was placed on probation in November after organizing an event which violated University policies.
An allegation of sexual assault at the Alpha Delta Phi house that was reported on March 9 is under investigation from the Office of Institutional Equity. According to the email, after March 9 the fraternity was ordered to cease and desist social activities, an order which they violated with hazing practices.
Beta Theta Pi is also currently under investigation for allegations of hazing.
These investigations follow sanctions against Sigma Chi, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Gamma Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon, all of which are on probation or social probation through this May. The Phi Iota Alpha fraternity was also suspended last June through this spring.
Lambda Phi Epsilon was placed under suspension in June 2016 through this spring, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon was terminated by the University in April 2015 and may not petition to reapply for recognition from the University until May 2019.
Shollenberger wrote that Alpha Delta Phi would remain under interim suspension until the University conducts a thorough investigation.
“The interim suspension means that effective immediately all activities and events as a university student organization on any university campus or premises or at off-campus university-associated events or premises are prohibited,” Shollenberger wrote.
He added that the suspension applies to social activities such as recruiting new members, fraternity meetings and participation in University-sponsored activities as a fraternity.
The chapter president of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity declined to comment.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated online to include a statement from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
