Beta Theta Pi has suspended all chapter activities as the University investigates reports of hazing within the chapter.
Chapter president Colin O’Brien said Friday that the fraternity’s national organization is working with GW to investigate the alleged violations. GW informed the chapter about the allegations Thursday night, O’Brien said.
“We are taking them very seriously, and our chapter will cooperate fully with University officials with any investigation,” O’Brien said in an email.
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O’Brien declined to comment on the nature of the alleged hazing violations, how many members were involved or whether the chapter’s pledge class is still active.
Tim Miller, director of the Center for Student Engagement, said his staff is working with Beta’s national organization to “conduct a prompt and thorough inquiry of the alleged violations.”
Fred Myrtle, the national director of chapter operations, added that the chapter is cooperating with the investigation, but declined to comment further.
The incident is the second hazing investigation of a Greek chapter this month. GW began investigating Sigma Delta Tau for allegedly hazing new members. That investigation is still ongoing, Miller said Friday.
Interfraternity Council president Casey Wood said the University hasn’t contacted him or the governing body’s judicial executive, which he called “out of the ordinary.”
Wood said in September that he believed the Greek community was experiencing a culture shift and leaving hazing behind, but Sunday, Wood said he was concerned about the recent allegations in the Greek community.
“It’s a little concerning that there’s these cases, and it’s kind of sad, but at the same time, there’s always two to three sides to every given story,” Wood said. “The fact that these allegations exist is a little bit alarming to me.”
The allegations come just a month after the University partnered with Greek organizations to host its first hazing prevention week to raise awareness and give students more information about resources to report hazing on campus.
The last string of hazing incidents was in 2011, when the University charged three chapters with hazing, underage drinking and providing alcohol to minors. Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Phi Epsilon lost their University-owned townhouses after each pled guilty.
