Two Tulane University fraternities have been suspended while they are under investigation for hazing, a university official confirmed Thursday.
The fraternities, Delta Tau Delta and Phi Kappa Sigma, were placed under interim suspension pending the outcome of investigations into alleged hazing, Mike Strecker, a spokesperson for the university, said in a statement.
“The health, safety, and well-being of students is our highest priority and we have robust training and resources dedicated to preventing hazing in all forms,” Strecker said in an email. “We take these matters seriously and will continue to uphold our community standards as the investigative process moves forward.”
The suspensions were first reported by Tulane’s student newspaper, The Hullabaloo.
Neither fraternity immediately responded to inquiries.
Though Strecker declined to link the investigation to any specific incident, the Tulane University Police Department has investigated several reports of alleged hazing this semester.
A hazing incident was reported to Tulane University police on April 3 in the 800 block of Broadway Street, according to the Tulane University Police Department crime log. The case was closed and no further action was taken.
Three incidents of hazing and three incidents of aggravated assault were reported on April 4 in the 900 block of Broadway Street. A separate investigation into hazing and aggravated assault reported in the 700 block of Broadway Street on April 4 is still open.
Tulane policy defines hazing as any act that “humiliates, degrades, embarrasses, harasses, or ridicules an individual” and is considered a condition for joining a group.
Tulane police have investigated several other alleged hazing-related incidents this semester, including a report of hazing on Feb. 19 and a report of hazing and aggravated assault on March 19 that were both referred to the university's Office of Student Conduct. The police are still investigating allegations of hazing made on Feb. 21 at the Phi Delta Theta House and another in the 1200 block of Broadway Street reported on March 13.
Several Greek organizations are no longer “recognized” by the university for violating the student code of conduct, including 828, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Sigma Alpha Mu.
Earlier this year Caleb Wilson, a Southern University student, was , reigniting conversations about hazing prevention among university officials and lawmakers. A proposed bill would require college students who are members of Greek life or other organizations to complete an hour of anti-hazing training within their first two semesters of membership.
