LSU President F. King Alexander is accepting the recommendations a task force put forth last week to curb hazing and binge drinking at fraternities and sororities—and says he’s going a step further to deliver harsher, swifter penalties for Greek organizations violating university policies.
In a letter released this morning, Alexander says any student or organization found to be responsible for hazing will be expelled from the university. He’s also endorsing a task force recommendation to ban common-source alcohol and hard liquor at Greek functions as well as the implementation of an amnesty policy to encourage students to report dangerous behaviors.
LSU released Alexander’s action plan and response to the task force following his appearance this morning on WAFB-TV. Implementation of the action plan and the task force’s 28 recommendations—across six areas—ranges from immediate to the fall of 2018.
“Hazing is hazing, and we’re going to have a strict policy with serious repercussions that involve anything around hazing that we deem to have any mental or physical harm to any student,” King said on WAFB this morning. “That’s going to be in addition to the 28 recommendations that are on the website.”
Additionally, Greek houses and chapters must provide access rights to the university if they want to have social events. Access permits university officials to spot-check parties and other events to ensure policies are being followed.
“In short, university officials will have the right to spot-check parties and other events to ensure policies are being enforced,” reads King’s letter. “If evidence of dangerous behavior is present, the chapter will be placed on immediate suspension and, depending on the severity of the transgressions identified, face possible removal from campus.”
LSU also plans to hire a national firm to evaluate its existing oversight policies for Greek organizations, King says. The university also is supporting legislation proposed by Rep. Nancy Landry that would make hazing a felony with steeper penalties, as well as a bill by Rep. Franklin Foil that would protect the identity of those who report dangerous behaviors such as hazing.
The task force was created in response to the death last fall of 18-year-old Max Gruver—a freshman who pledged the Phi Delta Theta fraternity—in what police say was a hazing incident.
“Let me reiterate: this is not the end, but rather a starting point for long-term, comprehensive shift in culture that will ultimately make our university community flourish even more,” King concludes in his letter.
