Exactly one year ago today, on August 13, 2022, a significant event took place at USC. In response to strict rules implemented after several cases of sexual assault at fraternity parties last year, six fraternities have made the decision to disaffiliate from the university.
These six fraternities, namely Kappa Alpha Order, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Chi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Zeta Beta Tau, all part of USC’s Interfraternity Council, have chosen to sever their ties with the university, as reported by the Los Angeles Times on Friday. The deadline given to fraternities to make their decision was Friday, with the fall semester scheduled to begin on August 22.
In response to the disaffiliation, USC expressed its disappointment in a statement posted on Instagram. The university stated, “We are disappointed that some USC fraternities are following an unfortunate national trend by disaffiliating from the university — against our strong recommendations.”
The statement went on to explain the motivations behind the decision, stating, “This decision seems to be driven by the desire to eliminate university oversight of their operations. The members are chafing at procedures and protocols designed to prevent sexual assault and drug abuse and address mental health issues and underage drinking. They also object to the restriction on rushing freshmen in the fall, a practice that has been proven to be unsafe for new students. Additionally, they are pushing back against the time it takes to investigate serious issues like sexual assault, which are regulated by state and federal government.”
It is important to note that despite the disaffiliation, the members of these fraternities will still be expected to adhere to the same high standards of behavior as other students. However, they will no longer receive the privileges granted to university-sanctioned groups. Although this decision only affects a small percentage of the student population, USC remains committed to the well-being of its students.
USC strongly advises students against joining these unaffiliated organizations or attending their events, emphasizing its commitment to upholding high standards of behavior within the neighboring communities.
The six fraternities that cut ties with USC declined to provide a comment to The Times regarding their decision.
Last fall, USC President Carol Folt acknowledged that the university had delayed notifying the campus community of allegations of drugging and potential sexual assaults at fraternity parties, signaling an awareness of the need for change.
In response to these allegations, the Interfraternity Council suspended all social activities at campus fraternities, following an announcement by the Department of Public Safety.
In January, new rules were introduced to address these issues, including the presence of security guards at stairs or hallways leading to bedrooms during parties and mandatory sexual violence prevention training for all fraternity members.
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