photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Strong Hall on the University of Kansas campus is pictured in September 2021.

Allegations of hazing have led to one University of Kansas fraternity voluntarily leaving the KU campus, while the university said more action may be on the way.

Sigma Chi fraternity’s KU chapter has had its charter revoked by its national organization, KU spokesman Andy Hyland confirmed to the Journal-World in a statement.

“We commend the Sigma Chi national chapter for its strong action in this case, and support its efforts to protect the health and safety of students, a value which we share,” Hyland said via email.

Hyland said KU became aware of hazing allegations involving Sigma Chi in January, and began working with the fraternity’s national organization to address hazing. Hyland said the national organization conducted its own investigation, and made a decision on Tuesday to suspend the fraternity’s charter.

Hyland’s statement didn’t comment on how long Sigma Chi will be suspended from KU, but the University Daily Kansan reported earlier on Tuesday that the suspension was for four years, citing a group text message that was sent to fraternity members.

KU in January suspended two fraternities — Phi Gamma Delta and Phi Delta Theta — for five years after KU investigations determined both fraternities engaged in systemic hazing activities that caused physical and mental harm to pledges. Among the allegations brought forward in those investigations, according to documents obtained by the Journal-World through an open records request, were incidents of a student having his head slammed against a locker enough times that he suffered a concussion, a student having beer bottles thrown at him, and an alleged incident where at least one KU fraternity student had his face covered with a pillowcase to the point that he had trouble breathing as part of some fraternity ritual that KU declined to release the details of.

Details about this most recent hazing case involving Sigma Chi aren’t available, Hyland said. He said that is because KU is continuing its “own resolution process,” regarding the fraternity. Hyland didn’t detail what additional penalties the fraternity might face as part of that process. Hyland said the process was ongoing, and thus KU could not “discuss further specifics related to the allegations.”

“KU expects its students and organizations to conduct themselves responsibly, and has worked to boost education and outreach efforts on the topic of hazing to ensure those who witness hazing can intervene to stop hazing behaviors, in addition to ensuring that victims of hazing know how to report and are protected from retaliation,” Hyland said via email.

Attempts to reach the local Sigma Chi chapter were not successful Tuesday evening.