Three formerly disassociated fraternities are in the process of rejoining the West Virginia University Interfraternity Council, Shauna Johnson, executive director of strategic communications, confirmed in an email to The Daily Athenaeum Aug. 27.
Alpha Sigma Phi, Sigma Chi and Theta Chi are in the process of becoming registered student organizations with the university, Johnson said.
The fraternities disassociated from the university because of WVU’s restrictions on first-semester students joining fraternities and GPA requirements, which were implemented following Nolan Burch’s 2014 hazing death and still stand today.
Burch, 18, from the Buffalo area of New York, was a WVU freshman when he died at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house during a fraternity-related pledge event in November 2014. In 2019, administrators of Burch's estate agreed to settle its wrongful death case for $3 million, according to court documents.
The fraternities cited a moratorium placed on the IFC in February 2018, when WVU halted all social and recruiting IFC activities over behavioral issues. According to letters of dissociation sent to the banned fraternities at the time, WVU formed a working group to redefine fraternity and sorority life on campus, consisting of students, staff, faculty, alumni, and fraternity and sorority headquarters partners.
That group looked at each chapter’s academic, discipline and community engagement history anonymously, which led to the discovery of violations within the chapters, the letters said.
“In its anonymous review of your organization’s record, the working group learned that your chapter had been found responsible for 6 different violations of the Student Code of Conduct within the past three years,” the letter to Theta Chi said. “These charges dealt primarily with violations of our social event policies and protocols.”
Alpha Sigma Phi was charged with an allegation of hazing in the spring 2018 semester and agreed to sanctions before disassociating.
“During the spring semester, your chapter was initially charged with an allegation of hazing,” the letter said. “Your chapter subsequently agreed, and in consultations with your national organization, to be found responsible for assault and battery and voluntarily agreed to the following sanctions.”
Sigma Chi disassociated from the university in the fall of 2018 after it was placed on “interim suspension,” pending an investigation into “alleged violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policies,” the letter said.
“In its anonymous review of your organization’s record, the working group learned that your chapter had been found responsible for 6 different violations of the Student Code of Conduct within the past three years,” the letter said. “These charges ranged from violating social event policies to incidents of hazing.”
Sigma Chi shared its letter from Kyle Shatto, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, on its chapter Instagram, stating it completed the university registration process and is recognized by the WVU Interfraternity Council for the Fall 2026 semester.
“The chapter is also affiliated with and holds membership in the West Virginia University Interfraternity Council (IFC),” Shatto said in the letter. “As a recognized fraternity, Sigma Chi operates in accordance with University policies and expectations, as well as the standards and requirements of the Interfraternity Council and the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life.”
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Affiliated members in the WVU IFC must “operate in accordance with all applicable University policies and procedures, Interfraternity Council governing documents, Fraternity and Sorority Life expectations and local, state and federal laws,” Shatto wrote.
“West Virginia University looks forward to working with Sigma Chi and its national organization as the chapter returns to active participation within the University's fraternity and sorority community,” Shatto added.