Michigan State University’s chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is facing a 10-year suspension over violations of the university’s student conduct policies.
What rules the historic Divine Nine organization broke, however, are a mystery.
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity faces 10-year suspension
Reason remains a mystery
The Student Services Building on March 13, 2019. The building houses the ASMSU Engagement Office, where services such as iClicker rentals and printing are offered.
The university declined to answer questions about the hefty punishment and redacted public records that would detail the charges. The fraternity’s national and regional leadership were similarly silent.
The discipline comes as many fraternities at MSU are facing disciplinary action from the university due to allegations including hazing and sexual abuse.
The 10-year suspension given to Alpha Phi Alpha — which expires in August 2034 — is the longest-standing violation a Greek Life organization is currently facing, with other end dates ranging from April 2025 to December 2027.
The decade of relegation is "commensurate with the significant impact of the behaviors which occurred in violation of multiple policies," according to the page.
The last time MSU issued such a lengthy sanction was against Pi Alpha Phi after a student died amid the fraternity’s hazing in 2021.
The State News filed records requests seeking documents related to MSU’s investigation and eventual sanction against Alpha Phi Alpha. In response, the university provided reports filed against the fraternity and the university’s response to them.
But, MSU redacted nearly every word of the documents, rendering them unreadable. The university cited exemptions in Michigan’s open records laws for "private information" and federal student privacy laws.
One document released in response to The State News' request.
Timestamps on the documents show that two reports were sent to the university’s Office of Student Support and Accountability, on March 11, 2024 and March 14, 2024. What those reports claimed is completely redacted.
The Office of Student Support and Accountability implements various sanctions or punishments for fraternities, including "loss of student organization registration," which is defined as "involuntarily separated from the University for a specified period or permanently." Under the sanction, conditions for return may be imposed.
The State News reached out to ShirDonna Lawrence, director of MSU’s Fraternity and Sorority Life, and spokesperson Amber McCann. Both declined to explain the suspension.
Alpha Phi Alpha’s national office and Midwest office did not respond to The State News’ repeated requests for comment.
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Senior Reporter Alex Walters contributed reporting.
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