Vanderbilt’s Alpha Psi chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity was suspended from campus this evening, according to a press release from the Executive Committee of Sigma Chi International Fraternity.
Director of the Office of Greek Life Kristen Torrey stated that the chapter will be suspended until at least Spring 2027. At that point, the fraternity and Vanderbilt will decide on a timetable for the chapter’s possible return. Torrey also said the Sigma Chi house on Vanderbilt’s campus is the property of the school and plans for the usage of the house have not been decided yet.
According to the press release, the Vanderbilt chapter did not uphold the “ideals and values” of Sigma Chi. The Executive Committee cited “accountability issues within the chapter” as the basis for its decision.
“It’s disappointing when our members’ actions necessitate a chapter closure, but this was the right thing for us to do,” Sigma Chi International President Tim Sanderson said. “We look forward to eventually returning to campus and partnering once again with Vanderbilt University.”
All members of Sigma Chi that have been initiated, per Torrey, are now considered “suspended active members” of the fraternity and thus are ineligible to join another fraternity at this time.
The last Interfraternity Council chapter to be suspended at Vanderbilt was the Gamma chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon in February 2021. DKE was suspended due to violations of the Fraternity’s Standards on Associate Member education, social event management and hazing.
In Fall 2021, Sigma Chi was under investigation for a policy violation but was not placed under suspension. The Gamma Delta chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, the Sigma chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity, the Alpha Gamma chapter of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and the Kappa chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity were also all placed on social suspension by their national fraternity headquarters during the same semester.
The president of the Interfraternity Council and of Sigma Chi did not respond to The Hustler’s requests for comments.
This piece will be updated as more information becomes available.
