PULLMAN, Wash. — Less than a month into the fall semester, three fraternities at Washington State University (WSU) are under investigation for violating state law and university policy.
The three fraternities — Tau Kappa Epsilon, Sigma Chi and Sigma Phi Epsilon — have varying degrees of restrictions, depending on the severity and amount of violations being investigated.
Tau Kappa Epsilon is being investigated for the most severe violations of the three fraternities. According to WSU's Student Organization Policy Violation Report, they are being investigated for hazing, alcohol, reckless endangerment, harassment (other than sexual or discriminatory harassment), and violating university policy. The violations reportedly happened between August 18 and 30.
While Tau Kappa Epsilon is being investigated, all chapter activities have been suspended.
On August 25, Sigma Phi allegedly had incidents of physical harm or direct threats, reckless endangerment, and theft or damage to property. They are restricted from hosting any social events until the investigation is complete.
Meanwhile, Sigma Chi is being investigated for physical harm or direct threats and reckless endangerment incidents that happened on August 25. They currently cannot host any events with alcohol present while the investigation is ongoing.
The school's policy violation reports page shows this isn't the first time two of the fraternities have been in trouble.
Sigma Chi was sanctioned last September for providing alcohol to minors.
Sigma Phi Epsilon was sanctioned just five months ago in April for the same violation; both frats were made to take review policies for risk management and alcohol and present action plans to avoid "future violations."
WSU is required to publicly report information about allegations of violations that happen within the campus' Greek Life according to the State of Washington’s “Sam’s law."
The law was created after the death of WSU student Sam Martinez in 2019 from alcohol poisoning following an Alpha Tau Omega party.
KREM 2 News reached out to the university and WSU Interfraternity Council, including submitting a public records request, but did not hear back Wednesday.