The University of Utah’s Greek Row will include Kappa Sigma once more. The fraternity, which was terminated in the fall of 2022, is making a return.
Their termination came after a series of investigations involving the fraternity chapter over the past three years. But their return comes with a vote of confidence from both university and Greek life officials, though Kappa Sigma will remain under probation until January, according to the Office of Student Affairs.
The first investigation involving Kappa Sigma was in response to a sexual assault allegation reported in January 2022 regarding a September 2021 “wine Wednesday” event at the chapter’s house, located at 41 S. University St. A female student attended the event with friends and told authorities that she was assaulted on a dance floor at about 1 a.m. on Sept. 23.
The alleged assault was one of two reports made within about a week involving a fraternity, though the second did not involve Kappa Sigma. Together, the reports led to a complete but brief suspension of all Greek life on campus.
The fraternity chapter’s president, Baylor Biedermann, said the investigation was ultimately dropped. The Salt Lake City Police Department declined to answer questions about the initial report allegedly involving Kappa Sigma and instructed The Salt Lake Tribune to file a records request. The Tribune filed the request Friday and did not immediately receive a response.
The second investigation stemmed from hazing allegations during the chapter’s fall 2022 recruitment cycle. The university ultimately did not find Kappa Sigma responsible, according to a statement from the university’s Office of Student Affairs.
But while undergoing that investigation, the fraternity was found to have violated an “administrative suspension” by hosting philanthropy events on multiple occasions, according to a statement from the office.
The chapter was specifically cited for holding “a pumpkin painting event, a therapy dog event, and a car smashing event” during the week of Oct. 31, student affairs Vice President Lori McDonald wrote in a letter on Dec. 21, 2022, to the fraternity.
In the letter, McDonald called the violations “egregious” and stated, “I do not have confidence the Kappa Sigma chapter will follow the University’s directions.”
As a result, the fraternity’s U. chapter was terminated, stripping them of campus support, funding and housing. Their reapplication date was set for January 2024.
Investigation continues while terminated
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Kappa Sigma house near the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on July 17, 2024.
For the next year, Biedermann said the fraternity was inactive, and underwent a yearlong investigation by the university’s Fraternity and Sorority Life office. Officials did not interview individual members, but met “on a weekly basis” with the former chapter president and vice president, Biedermann said.
While the investigation continued, Kappa Sigma reevaluated. It was “kind of a rebuild for us. So we kind of rewrote a lot of our processes,” said Beidermann.
Despite termination, fraternities can still operate as independent organizations outside of university regulation. That’s why, when the 2023 school year began, Kappa Sigma began to hold their own, informal recruitment.
“It went very, very well,” said Beidermann, “We’re very happy with the members that are in the chapter now and kind of how that whole process worked.”
Last November, the chapter received a call from the university “essentially saying that they were ready for us,” said Beidermann.
The reinstatement process
Becoming reinstated as a fraternity required one presentation, given many times, said Biedermann.
“The presentation covered our values, what we believe in, and the changes we’re making, and how we’re going to be a positive influence to the university’s community,” he said.
It was presented to three separate groups: university officials, a group of other fraternity presidents, and finally, the “whole Greek community.” That last coalition included presidents and members from sororities and fraternities, said Beidermann.
Every group had to approve Kappa Sigma’s reinstatement based on the presentation, and each did, including the Greek community, which Beidermann said voted unanimously.
A statement from the student affairs office noted that Kappa Sigma “reflected an awareness and understanding of the concerns that arose.”
The fraternity chapter will remain under probation until January as the university monitors their return, according to the Office of Student Affairs.
Students reactions mixed
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Kappa Sigma house near the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on July 17, 2024.
Reactions on campus to Kappa Sigma’s reinstatement are mixed.
Cheyenne Strongo, a sophomore at the university, said that the fraternity’s repercussions felt like a “slap on the wrist.”
“I honestly think that there should be worse consequences,” she said.
“I don’t dislike them,” said senior Josh Sternlife. In general, when it comes to fraternities, he said, “I don’t want to have a fraternity to have a double-edged sword. … It would be cool to see them in just good standings and not, negative interactions.”
Kamryn Mena, also a sophomore, said, “I want everybody to be safe. And definitely keep those allegations in mind.”
Taidhgin Steele, president of the university’s Sigma Nu fraternity chapter, was more positive about the university’s handling of the situation. Everything went as it should have, he said.
As students accept Kappa Sigma back with either excitement or trepidation, Beidermann said he is optimistic about their future.
“Going into this fall, we are very confident, very happy,” he said. “Things are much more organized. The right people are in charge. The relationship with the school — it couldn’t be better if we tried.”
Fall semester fraternity recruitment at the U. is already underway, with an orientation scheduled Tuesday and chapter-specific events set to start Thursday. Classes began Monday.
