November 7, 2021

By Tadeo Ruiz and Savvy Sleevar

Photo by Holden Green

Content warning: This story contains content regarding sexual assault, hazing and alcohol abuse.

Student protesters stood outside the Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity house as their shouts of “you are the problem” echoed in MU’s Greektown on Wednesday, Oct. 20.

At around 6 p.m., a campus-wide email from Bill Stackman, vice chancellor of Student Affairs said a freshman had been hospitalized for alcohol poisoning. The student was at a Fiji social event before they were admitted to University Hospital. 

Student Affairs said the Interfraternity Council worked with the administration to halt all fraternity activities and temporarily suspend the Fiji chapter. 

MU spokesperson Christian Basi said the University of Missouri Police Department and the Office of Student Accountability and Support both launched investigations into the incident. 

MU’s Fiji chapter has a history of violations, including an alcohol distribution violation on Aug. 24 and a hazing violation on April 1. Students at the protest said Fiji should face harsher consequences.

Student One, a member of Greek Life, disagreed with the temporary suspension. 

“Fiji should be made an example of. They should be kicked out indefinitely and not allowed to come back,” Student One said.

Student Two, who is also a member of Greek Life, said they hope MU doesn’t just put fraternities that break university rules on probation.

“It feels like they’re putting a Band-Aid on a problem as big as a bullet wound,” Student Two said.

Sophomore EJ Haas said news of the hospitalization will do damage to Greek Life’s image for a long time, but she said that she believes Greek Life’s reputation is already tarnished.

“This is nothing new [and] I’ve heard stories like this before,” Haas said. “[There seems to be] a mentality that hurting people is a way to bond with them.” 

MUPD was present at the protest with the Columbia Police Department assisting, Basi said.

Police escorted Student One away from the house after they tried to put up protest signs that read “these hands don’t haze” on Fiji’s front entryway, which was within private property lines. 

Several protesters attempted to follow Student One, but police deterred them from entering the driveway. 

“I had probably about twenty-ish signs and propped some down and [the police] asked me to follow them,” Student One said. 

Police asked for Student One’s identification information to put on a record in case the transgression happened again, Student One said. Despite being stopped by the police, Student One said they “definitely would” repeat their actions. 

Regarding the police at the protest, Haas said she did not trust the law enforcement present to properly handle potential altercations with protesters.

“I don’t believe the university likes when its shortcomings and its failures to protect students are acknowledged,” Haas said. “I have always felt MUPD cares more about getting students in trouble than keeping us safe.”

Basi said law enforcement was on the scene to protect everyone in the vicinity, including protesters.

Many protesters shared discontent with MU’s response toward Fiji, saying the fraternity’s behavior extended beyond alcohol practices. 

Student Three, who is also a Greek Life member, expressed their concerns about Greek Life-related sexual assaults. 

“You could probably walk across campus and run into more than 20 girls that have stories,” Student Three said. “Change needs to happen.”

Student Three’s concerns come after the MUPD warned students about reports that drinks may have been drugged at fraternity events last month. 

Student Three went on to say how they wished Fiji members would respond to the situation.

“I get it’s not every guy in Fiji, but if they were real men, they’d be out here in support of [the student] that is in the hospital because of their actions,” Student Three said. 

Student Three said they want Fiji to take responsibility and accept accountability for the incident. 

“F*ck Fiji,” Student Three said. 

On Friday, Oct. 22, Stackman sent another university-wide email: MU sanctioned a withdrawal of recognition for its Fiji chapter as a student organization. 

The email said Fiji was found responsible for Standard of Conduct violations and it also reported that the international headquarters for Fiji is “conducting an internal investigation.” 

Fiji has five business days to reject the informal disposition and will remain on temporary suspension in the interim. 

The Columbia Missourian reported that on Wednesday, Oct. 27, Fraternity and sorority presidents received an email stating that all fraternity events can resume Friday at noon.

The Interfraternity Council also released a statement on Wednesday, stating that until Nov. 19, any fraternity chapter that wants to hold a social event must set up a meeting with the IFC president, advisor or vice president of risk management to discuss risk management policies.

The statement also mentioned that should fraternity chapters fail to follow these new policies, they’ll be held accountable through IFC judicial proceedings. 

Edited by Namratha Prasad | nprasad@themaneater.com