The Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity will match the Interfraternity Council's suspension of the Penn State chapter's member education program in response to hazing allegations.
The decision came the same day the university said it would not intervene in the Interfraternity Council's (IFC) investigation of Pi Kappa Phi and Alpha Epsilon Pi.
The IFC announced Monday that both fraternities' member education programs were suspended Oct. 27 so allegations of hazing could be investigated.
Assistant Executive Director of the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity Christian Wiggins said the investigation will be a collaborative effort between the national fraternity and the IFC.
"If the allegations are found to be true, the chapter should expect some sort of action," he said.
Officials at the Alpha Epsilon Pi national fraternity said they are working with their Penn State chapter and have no further comment at this time.
Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life Roy Baker said the university will not become officially involved with the situation until the investigation is concluded. The fraternities will be referred to Judicial Affairs if they are found guilty, as hazing is a violation of state law, he said.
The details of the allegations are still unknown as the national fraternities await an official incident report, Wiggins said. The IFC's suspension of the member education program states that all parties involved with the investigation are expected to maintain confidentiality regarding the details of the incidents in question.
The fraternities have not been found guilty of any violations, said Chris Smith, IFC vice president for standards.
"We stumbled upon multiple incidents that we believe could be hazing," he said.
Smith (senior-political science) said the IFC will speak with all necessary parties, including the new member class of both chapters, to "get a good feel of what was going on."
"We'd like to make a positive out of everything and really try to help these chapters get on the right path," he said. "So far, they've been pretty committed to doing so. I was very happy about that."
Stephen DiOrio, Penn State Pi Kappa Phi housing corporation president, said the fraternity's alumni will participate in the investigation, which includes interviews with each of the new members.
"It's our intention to make sure we are a leader among fraternities," he said, "not one of the problems."
