Pi Kappa Alpha Suspends All New Member Activities

Following the death of a student at Bowling Green University, located in northwest Ohio, Pi Kappa Alpha International has ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of “any existing or planned events, ceremonies, and functions leading up to and including new initiations” in every chapter and provisional chapter. The student’s death came as a result of what Bowling Green Univ. officials described as “hazing activity involving alcohol consumption” at a PiKA off-campus event on March 4, 2021.    

The winter 2020 issue of Shield and Diamond magazine states that the PiKA chapter at Bowling Green, Delta Beta, had 83 undergraduate initiates and six new members. The chapter was given an interim suspension by Bowling Green Univ. pending police and university investigations. PiKA Int’l immediately suspended the chapter pending possible permanent suspension and expulsion of all members after the incident has been investigated. 

In the interim, PiKA Int’l will be contacting every chapter and provisional chapter to review their new member policies to ensure that they are all in compliance with the fraternity’s standards and culture. PiKA has a zero-tolerance policy towards hazing and inappropriate behavior. Regional and local volunteers, alumni advisors, and chapter officers will participate in a ZOOM meeting for each chapter. All present chapter operations will be reviewed, with an emphasis placed on new member programs, and health and safety measures.  

Presently, all new member education has been halted by our undergraduate members. However, our initiated members are continuing to socialize and build bonds of friendship with the new members while awaiting approval and direction from the PiKA Supreme Council. 

On March 1, 2021, PiKA’s 153rd Anniversary, only three days prior to the Bowling Green incident, PiKA Int’l instituted an initiative, Reimagine Fraternity, to establish higher standards of conduct, accountability, and inclusion, for every PiKA member. Any failure to live up to the standards expected by PiKA Int’l may result in dire consequences. The recent Bowling Green event makes this initiative more pressing and of greater importance.