On Sept. 2, Furman University suspended recognition of its Kappa Alpha (KA) chapter for a period of no less than four years following an investigation into off-campus parties held over the weekend of Aug. 21. The chapter will have an opportunity to appeal this decision.  

The parties resulted in a small coronavirus outbreak with nearly 60% of attendees testing positive according to the Sept. 2 update from Furman.  In an initial student response to the parties, an anonymous author wrote a change.org petition stating, “Every single person who went to those parties over the weekend signed an agreement saying that they would not participate in actions like this which jeopardize the safety of our campus…participants of the party should be sent home and not allowed back on campus this semester for this egregious violation of trust and safety.” As of the late afternoon Sept. 2, the petition has amassed 200 signees.

Interfraternity Council president Jake Burrus acknowledged the Paladin Promise violations and added, “In my opinion, if the COVID test results came back and most of them were negative, the punishment may have been less severe.” Burrus noted that although the events may not have been planned by KA, enough active members were at the former KA house for the parties to be considered a KA event. Despite this news Burrus told The Paladin, “Furman is open to [KA] returning to campus in four years, and Furman has a good relationship with [KA] national headquarters so hopefully they will be back then.”

The national administrative office of the Kappa Alpha Order provided a statement, saying “Kappa Alpha Order continues to advise all our members to follow campus, community, CDC, and state guidelines regarding Covid-19. The Furman chapter made a serious mistake, which we are seeing happen across the country when young people are returning to their campuses for the first time in five months. We will work with the Furman chapter as they consider next steps, and will support them as they submit an appeal to the school’s decision.”

The Paladin will continue to provide updates.