by James A. Bacon
As part of the punishment meted out for hazing infractions, the University of Virginia ordered Theta Chi fraternity to kick 10 brothers out of its Charlottesville frat house or risk having its sanction extended beyond four years. Refusing to break its leases and throw its members onto the street, the fraternity has asked the university to reconsider the sanction.
In June the University of Virginia terminated the Fraternal Organization Agreement (FOA) with the Theta Chi fraternity for hazing offenses, including making pledges eat a concoction with habanero peppers that caused some to vomit. The decision required the fraternity to “[cease] all operations, including any acts that may be construed as the operation of an ‘underground’ organization” until the 2028-29 school year.
An underground organization, states the Hazing Misconduct Report, “may include a group of students who in any way were affiliated with Theta Chi at the University and/or who continue to represent themselves as a successor organization to Theta Chi.”
That included 10 students who had signed leases the previous October to live in the Theta Chi house. If they were allowed to stay, the Student Affairs office informed the fraternity, Theta Chi would be in violation of UVA’s order and the clock could be set back a year for when the fraternity would be allowed to be participate again as a university-affiliated organization.
