Ohio State suspends fraternity for 3 years, starts lifting bans on others

Ohio State University has suspended one of its fraternities for three years.

OSU’s Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter was suspended for three years after an investigation found violations of the student code of conduct.

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The investigation found the chapter was guilty of hazing, endangering behavior and improper use of alcohol, a spokesman for Ohio State confirmed on Tuesday.

“We hope that Tau Kappa Epsilon will successfully return to Ohio State’s campus following the completion of its suspension and the terms outlined to them,” said David Isaacs, an OSU spokesman.

The national chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon said that it would appeal the alleged student code of conduct violations, said spokesman Alex Baker.

“Our expectation is that the appeal process is taken seriously and officials have not pre-determined an outcome without completing the rights afforded to this student organization,” Baker said in a prepared statement.

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The development comes just months after Ohio State suspended all of its 37 fraternities governed by the interfraternity council. There were at least 11 fraternity chapters under investigation when all chapters were suspended in November.

The university said it would still allow fraternities to conduct "essential activities" which could include chapter meetings but any social events were not permitted. Since the initial blanket-suspension, Ohio State has slowly begun approving plans for fraternity events again, according to the school's greek life website.

At least seven fraternities have been approved to host recruitment events again, three have been approved for new member activities and just one has been approved to host social events again, according to the university.

report by this news organization in December found that several other area universities had suspended fraternities for bad behavior. But, officials at every area university said they had no plans on implementing a campus-wide suspension on fraternities as Ohio State had done.

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