February 11th Investigation Concludes: Students, Fraternity Punished for Actions at PC’s Campus
The former Pi Kappa Phi house at Fraternity Court. Several members of the fraternity were responsible for chanting hateful messages towards players of the Howard University women’s lacrosse team. ©Mitchell Mercer
May 7, 2022
The long anticipated findings of the February 11th investigation pertaining to the women’s lacrosse match between PC and Howard University has been released, and the actions are swift.
President Matthew vandenBerg released a lengthy statement regarding the situation Thursday afternoon and confirmed the implementation of the following actions as a result of the conclusion of the inquiry:
- Effective immediately, four PC students have been expelled from the College.
- A year-long suspension is put in place for one PC student.
- Two additional students received suspensions and will take part in educational programs and counseling.
- Penalties were supplied for two PC students involving alcohol-related violations.
- Two students were not found to be involved in any misconduct.
“We are profoundly sorry for what our guests from Howard University experienced that day. Our hearts are heavy for them and for women and people of color throughout the PC community, many of whom felt less safe because of the actions of a select few,” vandenBerg said in a statement sent to all PC students. “Standing together as a unified community, PC categorically condemns racism, misogyny, and hate, all of which have no place in civilized society and are anathema to our most deeply held institutional values.”
Additionally, when students head to Fraternity Court on weekends, there will be one less house to visit.
Phi Beta, Presbyterian College’s Pi Kappa Phi chapter, was deemed to have some of its members take part in the February 11th incident. Beforehand in the year, the chapter’s license was revoked by the national office due to violations of their hazing policies.
Even though the national chapter permitted an opportunity to re-establishment in the near future, the College ultimately expelled the chapter from campus, with no path allowed in terms of establishment.
The sign to the former house has since been taken down and information about the fraternity has been removed from the Presbyterian College website.
Attempts by The BlueStocking have been made to contact the national chapter for comment, but none have been successful at this time.
It will mark the first time in PC’s history that a Greek life organization will no longer be allowed to operate. Throughout the history of Pi Kappa Phi’s chapters in South Carolina, there has been a consistent theme of the fraternity being shut down or suspended from operating on campus:
- Clemson University in January shut down their Pi Kappa Phi for four years due to alleged hazing from pledges.
- The College of Charleston, where the first Pi Kappa Phi chapter was founded, suspended their chapter from 2017-2018 due to several incidents of student misconduct.
- A student at the University of South Carolina was admitted to the hospital back in 2016 due to an incident at their Pi Kappa Phi chapter.
“Yet we do not mistake apologies for actions, nor heartfelt statements for accountability. We will seize this opportunity to faithfully live out and demonstrate our values, especially our commitment to seek justice and defend the humanity and self-worth of all people,” vandenBerg said.
Following the February 11th situation, many students, faculty, and staff demanded that the College respond in a swift manner to the misogynistic comments. A Unity March was held on February 24th to show solidarity to Howard University’s women’s lacrosse team in addition to women and people of color throughout the campus of PC.
Furthermore, the College also announced in October the establishment of the Rogers-Ingram Vice President for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion position as part of the College’s cabinet. The new VP is expected to be announced soon.
“PC strives to be a welcoming, nurturing, and empowering institution for every member of our campus community. This work is a perpetual journey of constant and often challenging self-reflection and growth. The Blue Hose are equal to the task because we are resolutely and unflinchingly committed to acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God. Working together, we will not let this incident define us. Instead, we will let our actions speak our truth, for they will ring out now and resonate forever,” vandenBerg said.
NOTE: The version of this story published on May 7th, 2022 incorrectly stated that the fraternity’s ejection from campus in March was connected to the events of February 11th. We regret the error.
