RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) -There are new allegations of hazing at Virginia Commonwealth University.
It’s why one fraternity is now suspended for the next two years.
Meanwhile, a sorority is in even bigger trouble after some of its members were found to be dealing prescription drugs.
VCU just released its latest student organization conduct report.
It details that the all-inclusive fraternity Delta Epsilon Mu has been suspended for two years for hazing, and the sorority Phi Mu has received a four-year punishment for using a group message forum to buy and sell prescription pills.
Three years after the death of Adam Oakes, some at VCU still don’t grasp how dangerous hazing can be.
Delta Epsilon Mu had been a co-ed pre-health fraternity on campus. Now, it’s suspended for two years after an investigation revealed pledges were subjected to psychological hazing. VCU did not comment on what exactly happened, but it was concerning enough for the national organization to revoke its charter.
However, more troubling is what happened at the Phi Mu sorority. Now, it shut down for the next four years after its members were found to be buying and selling prescription drugs on a group forum.
A VCU spokesman would not identify the drugs involved but did tell the Richmond Times Dispatch fentanyl was not one of them.
Both suspensions are clearly listed on the student organization conduct report, a move towards transparency championed by the family of Adam Oakes and required by “Adam’s Law.”
The family of Adam Oakes also released a statement on these new suspensions,
“The recent investigations and suspensions of VCU student organizations and those at UVA only solidify Adam’s Law is working. Students’ awareness is raised on hazing, they know how to report it, and aren’t afraid to report it. The students have seen the worst consequence of hazing in the death of their classmate, Adam Oakes, who should’ve been walking across the stage at commencement on Saturday, but instead isn’t due to the poor decisions and malice intent of others. They saw that the lack of action taken by Adam’s fraternity brothers in his time of need cost him his life, and students at VCU aren’t going to let that happen again. There are bad seeds of organizations and individuals on all college campuses. We need to weed out the bad and keep the good in order to truly transform student organizations back to their true intention of building empathetic leaders. We can only do this when universities, national organizations, and local chapters build relationships founded on consistent communication and collaboration. They need to stop pointing fingers, accept part of the responsibility and develop a plan to do better for the future. Our students’ health and safety depend on it. Adam’s Legacy will live on and continue to make positive change for Virginia students.”
