KU puts fraternity on probation for sexual misconduct as investigations into multiple alleged perpetrators, victims continue

Kappa Sigma fraternity at 1045 Emery Road on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014.

Kansas University placed a fraternity on probation for two years, saying it violated the KU code by engaging in sexual misconduct.

The action, announced Wednesday, caps KU’s current investigation of Kappa Sigma as an organization. But the university and police continue to investigate multiple individuals thought to have victimized multiple women.

The fraternity has been on interim suspension since Sept. 30, following allegations of sexual assault during a nonapproved social event at the house over homecoming weekend.

KU has not disclosed details about what its investigation found, publicly or to Kappa Sigma leaders.

“We applied significant and substantial sanctions on the Kappa Sigma fraternity because of the seriousness and disturbing nature of the events of the weekend of Sept. 26,” Tim Caboni, KU’s vice chancellor of public affairs, said in a statement. “There was sufficient information available for the university to apply these sanctions. We will not comment on ongoing investigations or the outcomes of individual investigations.”

Kappa Sigma is the first KU organization to be disciplined for sexual misconduct. David Steen, president of the KU chapter’s Housing Corporation, said based on the limited information he has he does not believe the violations were truly organizational in nature but that the fraternity did agree to KU’s sanctions.

“The men of the chapter concluded that this resolution is a practical alternative that allows them to renew activities such as The Habitat House That Greeks Built, which actually was established at KU by Kappa Sigs, and anticipate that the educational aspects of the resolution will be useful and informative,” Steen said in a written statement.

Kappa Sigma’s probation includes the following sanctions:

• Mandatory sexual harassment training for all members, plus additional specific training for pledges.

• No alcohol in the chapter house.

• Several members must work with KU to develop sexual harassment training targeted at male students.

• No participation in 2015 or 2016 Rock Chalk Review or Homecoming activities.

• Kappa Sigma must turn over its internal investigation into the incident to KU. Steen said the Housing Corporation hired its own attorney to question members about what happened, and that those findings would be given to KU after parts subject to attorney-client privilege are redacted. However, the internal investigation doesn’t have many answers, he said, “there’s really nothing to hide.”

KU’s letter to the fraternity outlining sanctions also noted the chapter must agree to remove any individual that KU finds, after an investigation and hearing, has committed an act of sexual violence.

Steen said KU recently notified him that it is investigating two individuals in connection with the incident but that the university would not say who they are.

The Lawrence Police Department’s criminal investigation into what happened at the fraternity house is ongoing.

The case does involve more than one alleged victim, Sgt. Trent McKinley confirmed for the first time on Wednesday.

He said the first victim reported the incident to police the following day, on Sept. 28. He would not confirm how many other victims police think there may be.

He said police also have spoken with multiple other people but are not labeling any as suspects at this time.

“This is more complex than the average case, where you might have a single victim or a single suspect,” McKinley said.

In the days following the party, rumors swirled through social media and word of mouth that there was punch spiked with drugs at the party.

McKinley would not confirm that or other details about what was reported. He said police are still seeking tips.

“I think that there is some information out there that would be useful to our investigation that hasn’t been shared,” he said.

“We would like to, first, identify victims in this case. And, second, we would like to understand completely what occurred. And if that involved criminal activity, identify the people that are responsible for it.”

More coverage of the Kappa Sigma allegations and investigation