AMHERST — The University of Massachusetts Amherst has lifted a suspension on the fraternity Theta Chi after an investigation into the organization’s conduct.
Theta Chi had been on interim suspension for five weeks while UMass looked into possible violations of the university’s code of student conduct. Ed Blaguszewski, a spokesman for the university, declined on Tuesday to specify what prompted the investigation, and had previously told the Gazette only that there was a party at the fraternity’s North Pleasant Street house on Sept. 16.
As part of the university’s review of Theta Chi, however, the chapter was issued a formal warning. The fraternity’s president did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story, and Blaguszewski did not provide details on the reason for the warning.
As part of that warning, Theta Chi members must now take part in an educational series on the topics of event planning and management, university policies and resources, fire safety and active bystander intervention.
“The university believes the chapter needs to learn more and be well versed in these areas to manage their organization effectively and serve students well,” Blaguszewski wrote in a statement. “That’s the focus of the assignments and the level of detail that the Dean’s Office has chosen to share.”
The chapter must submit a plan by Nov. 17 to implement the education series, which the dean of students office will review. The initiatives will be facilitated by campus services or consultants that the fraternity’s national headquarters hires, according to Blaguszewski.
Another UMass Amherst fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa, remains on what Blaguszewski described as an interim restriction while the university investigates potential student conduct violations there. That chapter is under investigation after police responded on Sept. 10 to a disturbance at the fraternity, where a fight allegedly broke out and a 17-year-old reportedly had his ear bitten, according to police records. Phi Sigma Kappa has been temporarily barred from hosting or sponsoring events at its North Pleasant Street house while the investigation proceeds.
Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.