University of Iowa PIKE fraternity suspended for four years

IOWA CITY — After at least six incidents of misconduct since the fall of 2017 — including two this academic year — the University of Iowa has suspended its chapter of the popular Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity for at least four years.

That means the chapter — known as “PIKE,” sitting adjacent UI’s Mayflower Residence Hall along Dubuque Street — won’t be eligible for UI recognition again until July 1, 2026.

Should the chapter face more misconduct allegations in the interim while not recognized by the university, administrators could extend the suspension, according to a Feb. 23 disciplinary letter.

The Iowa PIKE chapter was among three UI fraternities found to have been involved in hosting impermissible and illegal tailgates in the fall. UI administrators in February also found PIKE responsible for holding an unregistered, and thus impermissible, party with alcohol at its house in September — a party the university learned about from a student who needed medical attention after attending.

“The chapter has been involved in several cases over the past three to four years,” according to the UI disciplinary letter. “The number and nature of concerns noted above weighs in favor of a more severe sanction.”

Officials with the local PIKE chapter didn’t immediately respond to The Gazette’s request for comment.

The PIKE house is among several UI Greek chapters disciplined in recent years for hosting impermissible parties, hazing, tailgating, and failing to follow COVID precautions. And the campus in the fall saw widespread and, at times, destructive protests after a student accused Phi Gamma Delta brothers of sexually assaulting her, recording it, and sharing the video virtually within the fraternity.

That case continues to play out in the courts, with one of the accused facing a harassment charge and both facing a lawsuit — which they’re fighting with counter claims of defamation.

In that UI administrators faced campuswide criticism for their handling of that situation, the UI Division of Student Life in the fall announced a holistic review of the fraternity — which goes by FIJI — involving the national headquarters and local members.

That review — evaluating law and policy compliance, chapter and member accountability, and educational program attendance — was to include an internal recommitment process outlining expectations of members going forward.

'Expansion agreement’

The university at that time also announced new policies for its entire Greek system set to take effect in 2022 — including an “updated expansion agreement” for any new chapters or those wanting to reestablish themselves on campus.

Currently, seven fraternities are on the university’s “suspended organizations” list — now including PIKE.

Starting in fall 2022, any new or reestablishing chapters must sign an updated agreement outlining expectations related to student conduct and training; local support systems and advisers; and house director policies. The agreement also bars the new or reestablished chapters from getting a house within the first five years.

According to UI’s February disciplinary letter to PIKE, the fraternity after its suspension must adhere to “the current terms of the University of Iowa Fraternity and Sorority Life expansion agreement” to reestablish itself on campus.

UI officials, though, told The Gazette — in response to its request for the expansion agreement — there is “no new agreement” and Fraternity and Sorority Life “is in the process of developing one.”

The UI disciplinary letter said administrators will work closely with PIKE’s international fraternity “to create the specific terms for the chapter’s return to the University of Iowa.” That will involve a “return agreement” added to PIKE’s case file with the UI Office of Student Accountability.

Before PIKE’s violations this year involving impermissible and illegal tailgating and then a house party with alcohol — that followed a kick ball event co-hosted with a sorority at Hubbard Park — the chapter had been in trouble for years, landing itself on some form of probation or sanction since at least 2017.

In March 2021, PIKE extended its discipline through the end of 2022 for a range of offenses, including requiring new member acts of “servitude”; hosting parties with alcohol; failing COVID protocols; and lacking supervision.

The chapter, specifically, didn’t have a live-in adviser as required and members reported not having even met the person who was supposed to serve as the house director.

Regarding hazing reports, new members had to make payments to a “social fund” — which went directly to a chapter officer’s personal Venmo account — and they had to clean the chapter house and member apartments; shovel snow; and drive intoxicated members, among other things.

Even if members did the chores willingly, they believed they were required.

“A reasonable person in the new member's position would see these acts of servitude as a requirement to gain access to the organization,” according to a UI investigation, “especially since these expectations were not required of those who already gained association with the organization.”

In October 2020, the chapter was found to have violated social gathering protocols — given COVID — and placed on disciplinary and social probation. In October 2018, the chapter was found responsible for impermissible tailgating and partying — landing it a long list of sanctions. And in October 2017, the chapter was sanctioned for an unregistered social event with alcohol.

New policies

Among the university’s new Greek system policies is one addressing house directors as “engaged professionals who live in chapter facilities.”

“Providing professional wages, suitable housing, standard work week hours, and time off will ensure that individuals with experience in higher education and student affairs will be hired and retained,” according to the Division of Student Life communication on the new policies.

Duties of a chapter house director will include: serving as an on-site host for all social and recruitment functions; serving as a host at all evening meals; facilitating house and yard maintenance; coordinating property management, like snow removal; collaborating with property managers; and participating in meetings and trainings.

The new fraternity and sorority guidance also outlines comprehensive education and training programming covering things like alcohol, violence prevention, wellness, diversity, bystander intervention, and academic excellence.

Regarding recruitment, the UI Fraternity and Sorority Life staff are “reviewing options and drafting a proposal recommending changes to the membership intake and recruitment, including the possibility of a second-semester timeline.”

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com