HOUSTON – It may take weeks to find out more about hazing allegations brought against a popular fraternity at the University of Houston.
The university said on Wednesday the Harris County District Attorney's Office directed university police to look further into the allegations about Sigma Chi and five of its members. The investigation could take two to three weeks as police will conduct several interviews.
Charles Haston is the student body president at the University of Houston. Haston is trying to set the record straight after an article published on The Daily Cougar quotes him as saying he viewed video of an alleged hazing involving Sigma Chi. The article was removed from the campus online daily, but is still appearing on other websites.
"I've have seen a video, but determining who's actually in the video and what's actually taking place in the video? That is virtually impossible," said Haston.
Whether the video surfaces and becomes potential evidence and whether the allegations prove true or not, Haston says members of all Greek-lettered organizations will have to work to repair a damaged image.
"I think that we should, moving forward, make sure that we really take a good hard look in the mirror and make sure that we are actually doing the things necessary to make sure that all of our organizations are espousing the core values that we do hold," said Haston.
UH President Renu Khator announced Tuesday that the fraternity chapter and several of its members were suspended.
Khator released a statement that read in part:
"I am shocked, dismayed and deeply disappointed that allegations of this nature have arisen on our campus. In addition to suspending the fraternity, the University is placing the five students accused of these acts on immediate suspension. Pending further investigation and due process, if the allegations prove to be true, those responsible will be subject to immediate disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion."
Students on campus are being tight-lipped about what exactly happened. KPRC 2 has learned that the hazing involved pledges, students who are wishing to join the fraternity and become official members who are usually freshmen or sophomores.
Five students in particular are being investigated for their involvement. According to the Sigma Chi international fraternity, their head office received information about the alleged inappropriate pledging activities Jan. 20.
The chapter was then suspended and the university was notified.
"They recently have been slowing down in terms of their events," UH student Luis Torres said. "I didn't know what was going on. Now with the release, it's confirmed they have been getting in trouble."
Channel 2 News is told that campus police are handling the investigation and looking into any criminal activity.
International Sigma Chi President Michael Greenberg released the following statement:
"Hazing in all its ugly forms will be eliminated from Sigma Chi. The bedrock of our fraternity is to be men of character and leaders in our communities... Hazing is so far removed from the principles we believe in that we cannot, and will not, allow it to continue. Those who engage in this vile tactic will be held accountable."
The Greek letters out in front of the fraternity house have been taken down and so has the Sigma Chi flag that usually flies out front.
Other members of the Greek community said they started to suspect something was going on about one month ago.
"We knew something was happening," said Jesus Pizano, a University of Houston student and member of the Greek community. "They were hiding their letters everywhere, something was up."
"They dropped out of Frontier Fiesta, which is one of the biggest university traditions that we have," said Luis Torres.
Students' suspicion was confirmed Tuesday when the president of the university emailed a formal statement, stating the Sigma Chi chapter was under investigation and had been suspended.
"Everyone knows the consequences," said Pizano. "Now everyone knows if you haze, you can get kicked off campus."
Torres, who is a member of another fraternity, said the members of Sigma Chi have always been gracious.
When one of Torres' fraternity brothers was involved in an accident, Sigma Chi donated money to his recovery.
"I've seen nothing but good things from them," he said. "Seeing this come out of the university is pretty surprising."
