PIKE chapter suspended for one year after numerous violations

The Hopkins chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) fraternity has been suspended through the end of the 2014-2015 school year due to a number of violations of the student conduct code.

In an email to the University community, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Kevin Shollenberger detailed the violations for which PIKE’s activity is being suspended: underage drinking, providing alcohol to minors, unsafe behavior, failure to comply with University and police directives, disturbance of neighbors and breaking the terms of their social probation.

“The Pi Kappa Alpha chapter has not met the expectations and standards we all set for ourselves as members of the Johns Hopkins community,” Shollenberger wrote.

After an unregistered party in January, in which a student was stabbed, the chapter was placed on social probation and prohibited from holding any social events for the rest of the semester. A party held Homecoming weekend, in violation of the probation, placed the fraternity under interim suspension and initiated an investigation by the University.

PIKE has been the subject of other allegations and complaints, including the allegation of a gang rape last spring. However, this suspension, Shollenberger wrote, is only based on conduct for which the University has found the group responsible.

The full-year suspension prohibits PIKE members from holding any social gatherings or meetings and from recruiting new members. They must vacate the PIKE house on N. Charles Street by the end of this month, and they cannot create shared housing arrangements elsewhere.

Furthermore, PIKE leadership and the national PIKE organization must submit a chapter improvement plan to the University for approval. The plan will describe how PIKE intends to realize its mission to develop “men of integrity, intellect and high moral character,” and it will include a review of the current requirements for new members as well as ongoing training.

After the completion of the disciplinary process, PIKE agreed to the terms of the suspension and chose to forgo a hearing before the Student Conduct Board.

“We hope that is an indication that the members accept responsibility for the chapter’s recent record and are determined to improve,” Shollenberger wrote.

“Our hope is that PIKE will comply with our conduct requirements and reintegrate into the university community at the conclusion of its suspension.”