The University of Utah officially terminated its recognition of the Sigma Nu fraternity chapter following a series of hazing violations, according to a May 19 letter from university leadership. The fraternity will be barred from operating as a recognized student organization for at least six years.
In the letter to fraternity leadership, Vice President for Student Affairs Lori McDonald said the chapter violated multiple university policies, including 6-400 and 6-402, and engaged in misconduct spanning all three categories of hazing: subtle, harassment and violent.
McDonald wrote that she “[did] not have confidence” the chapter would comply with future university directives or terms of suspension, citing a pattern of hazing that persisted despite prior investigations in 2018 and 2023.
“Termination of the University’s recognition of the chapter is warranted,” McDonald stated. “These violations are egregious.”
An investigation by Student Affairs confirmed reports of:
- Coerced alcohol consumption, including an event called “Don’t Fuck Your Brother,” where pledges were forced to finish a 30-case of beer in a circle, with the last person drinking the remainder.
- Blindfolding and kidnapping pledges, transporting them to the Exotic Kitty Gentlemen’s Club for interviews.
- A “demerit system” punishing new members for failing chores, interviews or memorization tests which were sometimes administered at 3 a.m. on school nights.
- Pressuring pledges to buy illegal substances (e.g., marijuana, nicotine) for “pledge packs” or to satisfy active members’ demands.
- Sleep deprivation and humiliation during “I-Week,” where pledges were confined to the basement for days, forced to clean while being yelled at and shown violent and pornographic videos as part of initiation.
University officials also confirmed that chapter alumni, some in their 50s and 60s, participated in hazing rituals. A “color system” designated which activities could haze most severely, with “red” and “purple” members, often leaders or seniors, permitted to inflict the worst treatment on pledges.
McDonald said the decision follows national best practices outlined by the Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA), the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) and the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). Sigma Nu’s national organization has also suspended the chapter’s charter as of June 2.
The Greek Council Executive Board condemned the chapter’s hazing.
“Hazing is harmful, unacceptable and has no place in our community,” the board said in a statement. “The actions that led to this decision, do not reflect the values or true purpose of Greek life.”
Due to the severity of the hazing violations, Sigma Nu will not be eligible to reapply for university recognition until 2031. The U said the timeline aligns with investigators’ recommendations and allows time for current members and chapter leadership to graduate.
Sigma Nu declined to comment.
This is the third fraternity de-recognized by the U since 2002. The most recent, Kappa Sigma, regained recognition in January 2024.
