Involvement in a student organization is a powerful experience in the development of individuals. In order to allow our students to make a discerning choice about their involvement, Furman University began reporting conduct violations by organizations in the fall of 2016. The conduct report is updated at the end of each fall and spring academic semester; violations are made public for four years from the semester the violation occurred.

Below you will find a condensed report of violations involving alcohol, drugs, sexual misconduct, physical violence, hazing, or demeaning behavior. These violations may stem from acts of individuals; however, in each instance, the behavior was either closely linked to organizational activity, occurred in an environment permitted by the organization, or represented illegal or otherwise prohibited behavior condoned by the organization’s membership. Consequently, the organization was held responsible in addition to any conduct action involving the individual(s) involved. The description of complaint section offers details from the initial complaint received by the institution. Consequently, it may differ slightly from the actual facts of the violation.

In addition to the corrective action taken by Furman that is outlined below, each organization may take additional steps to self-correct issues via an internal standards board, membership review conducted by the national office of the organization, or other similar processes. Those actions are not represented below.

Furman’s conduct process is designed to be educational, restorative, and consequential. Organizations are given the opportunity to learn from past mistakes and move forward positively. Consequently, a history of violations does not necessarily represent an on-going negative environment or culture within that organization. Concerning patterns of misconduct have and will continue to result in suspending or expelling University recognition.

Conduct Report
Organization Name Date of Incident & Resolution Violation(s) Description of Complaint
Pi Kappa Phi
Date of Incident & Resolution
1.21.2024
Violation(s)
Hazing; Failure to Adhere to General Policies
Description of Complaint
Chapter members inappropriately blindfolded associate members during a sub-ritual. During the same evening, associate members were shown a presentation of chapter members that included sexually suggestive photos.
Pi Kappa Phi
Date of Incident & Resolution
11.21.2023
Violation(s)
Hazing
Description of Complaint
The chapter previously hosted an initiation party in spring 2021 and spring 2023 where newly initiated brothers wrote on one another in marker.
Pi Kappa Phi
Date of Incident & Resolution
9.16.2023
Violation(s)
Alcohol: Evidence of or Participation in Drinking Games
Description of Complaint
Members of the organization participated in drinking game activities hosted in their apartment
Sigma Chi
Date of Incident & Resolution
2.7.2023 & 3.13.2023
Violation(s)
Hazing
Description of Complaint
Furman University received anonymous allegations of alleged hazing behavior: (1) concerns regarding a strenuous schedule and effects of sleep deprivation and exhaustion, (2) servitude - use of pledge brothers to clean brothers’ apartments, complete laundry, conduct pledge rides to class and associated locations
Sigma Nu
Date of Incident & Resolution
3/23/21 & 4/21/21
Violation(s)
Hazing & Dishonesty
Description of Complaint
University received complaint new members were being required to drive members and perform other acts of servitude into the early hours of the morning that was negatively impacting academic performance. The new member period extended beyond the allotted six week period and contained none of the National organization's educational curriculum.
Sigma Chi
Date of Incident & Resolution
3/19/21 & 4/5/21
Violation(s)
Failure to Comply; Violation of Student Organization Policies; Off-Campus Conduct related to Health Measures
Description of Complaint
Sigma Chi scheduled an unregistered, off-campus new member initiation ritual in contradiction of University's health measures.
Young Life
Date of Incident & Resolution
Fall 2020 & 2/22/21
Violation(s)
Failure to Comply; Violation of Student Organization Policies; & Off-Campus Conduct related to Health Measures
Description of Complaint
The Office of Spiritual Life instructed Young Life that they could not participate in off-campus meetings with high school students and peers from other colleges due to health measures related to COVID-19. Young Life continued to participate in meetings and ministerial staff refused to follow University's health measures after initial suspension of activities.
Alpha Delta Pi
Date of Incident & Resolution
1/10/21 & 2/3/21
Violation(s)
Organizational Activities at Unrecognized Venues; and Off-Campus Conduct related to Health Measures (Paladin Promise)
Description of Complaint
Alpha Delta Pi hosted a off-campus AirBNB for members to plan and participate in recruitment, which Panhellenic and University policy explicitly prohibited
Kappa Alpha
Date of Incident & Resolution
8/21/20 & 8/22/20; 9/2/20
Violation(s)
Endangerment; Disorderly Conduct; Organizational Activities at Unrecognized Venues; Sponsorship/Hosting of an Unauthorized Party; and Violation of Student Organization Policies.
Description of Complaint
Kappa Alpha hosted an unauthorized party at their former fraternity house on August 21 and an unauthorized gathering on August 22. Neither event was registered nor would have been approved. The chapter had not yet completed the terms of its social activities suspension from its prior incident. Additionally, a majority of attendees tested positive for COVID-19 post event.
Pi Kappa Phi
Date of Incident & Resolution
2/3/2020
Violation(s)
Hazing; Risk Management Policies
Description of Complaint
During spring new member education, Pi Kappa Phi engaged in hazing. The hazing consisted of forced lineups in which new members were questioned on fraternity facts, being marched through the woods at 2 a.m. where intoxicated members (in various stages of undress) fabricated a story/puzzle of fraternity history that the new members were to solve as a private joke to the initiated members who knew it to be nonsense, being forced to sleep outside in tents during a snowstorm while initiated members drank inside the fraternity house, and being told to record videos of themselves singing to the song "Girl Gang."
Sigma Nu
Date of Incident & Resolution
1/10/2020 & 1/29/2020
Violation(s)
Hazing
Description of Complaint
During the fall semester, Sigma Nu extended bids to upperclassmen. During the new member education period, new members were required to drive current members on demand leading to sleep deprivation, devote time to meeting each brother weekly as opposed to the nationally endorsed new member education plan, and experienced non-injurious bodily contact (were told to run through a guantlet of initiated members who slapped their buttocks and pushed them "like in a mosh pit") as a precursor to the initiation ritual.

Reporting violations occurring Spring 2020 to Spring 2024.

Organizational Standing with the University

The following are recognized student organizations not in good standing due to past due sanctions, probationary status, or suspension.

  • Sigma Chi – Disciplinary Probation until April 30, 2024
  • Pi Kappa Phi – Disciplinary Probation until February 28, 2025

The following are unrecognized student organizations not in good standing due to past due sanctions, probationary status, or suspension. These organizations remain unrecognized until they satisfy all student conduct requirements associated with their standing and any requisite University requirements for pursuit of recognition by the institution.

  • Tau Kappa Epsilon – Suspended until June 1, 2023
  • Young Life – Suspended until September 1, 2023
  • Kappa Alpha – Suspended until September 1, 2024

Updated February 28, 2024.