A Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters official held his first closed-door hearing Thursday to discuss its members’ violation of anti-discrimination and anti-hazing policies.
The fraternity, scrutinized for what many believe to be anti-gay actions, won’t know its sanctions until next Thursday at the earliest.
“Pi Kappa Phi has taken no final action at this point at a greater fraternity level,” said Stephen Whitby, assistant executive director of the national chapter based in North Carolina.
Whitby has been working with the fraternity on the case since Pi Kappa Phi pledges wore pink, sleeveless T-shirts to the Mason and Abbot halls cafeterias on April 1 and April 2 that had phrases such as “I like little boys,” “Capt. Gay Sex” and “Fag Hairstylist” written on the back.
An open meeting was held earlier Thursday for anyone with concerns to speak with Whitby.
He said a discrimination and hazing investigation is being completed by staff and volunteers from local and regional headquarters. He wouldn’t comment on what the investigation entails.
Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters temporarily suspended the fraternity shortly after the Mason and Abbot halls incidents, and a greek judicial panel handed out a social suspension and other sanctions, including community service and required educational sessions.
“The suspension necessitated a temporary shutdown of all operations of the chapter,” Whitby said. “After some minor tug of war with the chapter about what that meant, they have remained under that status since then and will remain that way until a final decision has been made by the greater fraternity.”
MSU greek officials also required Pi Kappa Phi to print an advertisement in The State News apologizing for its members’ actions. The fraternity has yet to do that.
A team made up of greek leaders, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender representatives and residential directors are working with Whitby on his investigation.
“Over the course of the last few weeks I think all of the team has had the same conversation to a very large degree,” said Billy Molasso, assistant director of Student Life.
“Part of that is figuring out how we resolve this incident but at the same time how to use this incident as a catalyst, both on campus and with the greek community, to talk about issues of difference and issues of sexuality.”
Brent Bilodeau, MSU assistant for LBGT concerns, said the investigation team needs to focus its work on long-term solutions.
“We want to create space for people to make proactive, positive change in the future,” he said.
That future needs to include education, Molasso said.
“We’ve got to make sure the education doesn’t stop with this semester,” he said.
