It's the beginning of a new semester, and while many of us are looking forward to new classes and new experiences, 30 Kappa Sigma fraternity members recently found themselves in need of a new place to live.
The USC charter of the fraternity was withdrawn for five years after an investigation revealed hazing, alcohol abuse and controlled substance violations. This may not sound like new news following Delta Tau Delta's removal from campus in the fall and a handful of other organizations leaving Greek Village in recent history. But the kicker is how quickly the brothers have been kicked out of their house and how little has been said by the university about the fraternity's termination.
Last month, 30 of the fraternity's members living in the Greek Village house were told to find new housing accommodations by the start of this semester, and the rumors are moving almost as fast as the evicted brothers are. What we do know for sure is only what police reports and court records tell us: police raided the Kappa Sigma house on Oct. 20 and found drug paraphernalia and prescription pills, and a judge ruled the fraternity members would have to leave the house by Jan. 12.
We also know that members of Kappa Sigma are saying that the allegations are "outrageous and extremely exaggerated." Everywhere in between is filled in with YikYak comments and gossip. And there isn't a university statement to be found.
When Delta Tau Delta was removed from campus last semester, a conduct report outlining the offenses was posted to USC's Organizational Student Conduct website, but no such report has been submitted for the recent incidents involving Kappa Sigma.
While there may be a lot of sensitive information in this case, including the privacy of the 81 students being accused of the alcohol and controlled substance violations, Kappa Sigma is one of USC's oldest and largest fraternities, and this is the fourth fraternity to be closed at USC since 2011.
Greek Life culture has a long way to go to put an end to hazing and alcohol abuse that it is associated with, and the university cannot do much to change this. However, the university can be more transparent with the student body and the community about what is going on in the Greek system and exactly what leads up to students getting evicted in the middle of the school year.
We are all members of the student body, and we should be able to count on the university to tell us what is going on around us. We should count on statements and information promptly as it becomes available. Silence creates poison because it allows room for speculation, and speculation almost always assumes the worst.
College kids are social animals. If we don't know the truth, we're going to keep guessing, rumors will continue to spread and the social media posts will only grow more and more speculative. Give us the facts, so we can stop depending on hearsay.