The MU News Bureau announced Tuesday afternoon that the MU chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order has lost university recognition effective immediately.

The loss of recognition will be effective for five years. The fraternity will be unable to participate in any sanctioned events, including Homecoming, Greek Week and any other official social events. The MU chapter currently has a membership of 125, according to the Kappa Alpha Order national office’s website.

Kappa Alpha was previously suspended in early October. The fraternity was under investigation for an alleged hazing incident. Police were dispatched to the Kappa Alpha fraternity house at 1:46 p.m. on Sept. 29. Police say an 18-year-old subject was transported to a local hospital by ambulance for alcohol poisoning.

The national office previously hired an independent investigator to hold an investigation into the alleged hazing incident, according to a statement released to The Maneater. The national office determined “specific hazing allegations related to the temporary suspension to be false.”

The statement acknowledged that the investigation “did find unrelated previous risk management violations, including hazing and alcohol misuse, that must be addressed.”

“At this time, our chapter remains under the previously issued temporary suspension from our national administrative office,” according the statement. “This suspension will remain in effect until local alumni and national leaders can determine the best course of action for our members, the chapter, and the national organization.”

The MU chapter of KA was first founded in September 1891. In 2004, Kappa Alpha fraternity members reportedly packed a Civil War-era cannon with gunpowder in front of their house at the corner of University Avenue and College Avenue and fired it. The cannon blew up, sending fragments of iron through the roof of the University Place Apartment building across the street. No one was injured in the explosion.

“Kappa Alpha Order has a 125-year history with the University of Missouri,” the national office’s statement said. “We are disappointed at the ultimate decision by the university. The chapter and the national organization were prepared to educate our members on making better decisions, work with Mizzou as in the past, and take necessary steps to improve in the future.”

According to the MU News Bureau release, Kappa Alpha was found responsible for multiple violations of the [university’s Standard of Conduct](Collected Rules and Regulations 200.010). Fraternity members themselves will still be able to attend classes. The chapter will also be charged a $1,000 judicial processing fee.

“The Judicial Processing fee is assessed whenever a student organization is found responsible for violating the University’s Standard of Conduct,” MU spokesperson Christian Basi said in an email. “Funds collected from the processing fee are used to support staffing and operations of the Office of Student Conduct, specifically those involved in organizational conduct.”

It’s unclear what the future of the current fraternity house is, or whether members of Kappa Alpha will be forced to move out of the house. Basi said the university does not determine what happens to the actual fraternity house, or its members.

The Kappa Alpha national office determines what will happen to current active members. The Office of Greek Life declined to comment.

“We expect all of our student organizations to uphold our values of Respect, Responsibility, Discovery and Excellence,” said Cathy Scroggs, vice chancellor for Student Affairs in the news release. “We work hard with any organization that violates our policies to educate them on making better decisions. We have worked with this organization in the past, and I hope that they will take the necessary steps to improve in the future. The safety of our campus is our No. 1 priority; anytime that safety is compromised, we must take appropriate measures.”

_Edited by Emily Gallion | egallion@themaneater.com_