Dear Campus Community,
I am writing to share with you that Furman’s Kappa Alpha chapter has been notified that they are on interim suspension while the university investigates reports of unauthorized parties held this past Friday and Saturday off campus at the former Kappa Alpha fraternity house.
Because of potential exposure to COVID-19, we have quarantined 53 students known to have attended the parties and are requiring that they all be tested tomorrow morning. Per Furman’s protocol, individuals in close contact with a person who tests positive or who are symptomatic are quarantined for a period of 14 days.
University contact tracers are speaking with the individuals who attended the parties to ascertain the number of close contacts they had with others during the gatherings. A close contact is defined as being within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes, with or without a face covering, with anyone testing positive for COVID-19 within 48 hours prior to the onset of their symptoms.
The reported activities were not registered, and the Student Handbook is clear that any activity at an unrecognized venue may result in ending the organization’s ability to be a part of our community. Our concern is heightened given the ongoing pandemic. In addition to suspending all of Kappa Alpha’s activities until the student organization conduct process is complete, Furman will review whether individual conduct action for violations of the Paladin Promise, and possibly other Student Conduct Code policies, is appropriate.
As the campus has been reminded, students who violate the Paladin Promise will be referred to an accountability hearing. The outcome for any student found responsible for a violation of the Paladin Promise or the Student Conduct Code ranges from warnings for the least serious offenses to suspension or expulsion for individuals who intentionally or recklessly endanger the community.
We urge any students who are concerned that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 to contact the Earle Student Health Center at furmanstudenthealth@prismahealth.org. Reports to the Student Health Centerinitiate Furman’s virtual screening process to determine next steps to help to prevent the spread of the virus.
Our priority is protecting the health and safety of our campus community. Large gatherings are not allowed, per the campus’s public health and safety protocols. We cannot allow such gatherings to jeopardize the wellbeing of the Furman community. We have a responsibility to care for each other, to stay committed to the Paladin Promise, and to do everything we can to protect one another, as well as the opportunity to live and learn together on campus.
Sincerely,
Connie L. Carson
Vice President for Student Life