PAT EATON-ROBB
Associated Press
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — A sorority accused of forcing a member to lie on the floor and “sizzle like bacon,” then drink alcohol until she passed out has been banned from the University of Connecticut.
The school sent its Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter a letter Wednesday informing it that its registration and recognition had been revoked after an investigation into the hazing allegation.
The sorority did not immediately respond to email requests for comment Thursday. It was given until 4 p.m. on May 15 to vacate its on-campus house and has until May 14 to file an appeal.
“UConn has zero tolerance for hazing and all similarly harmful behaviors, and repeatedly makes those expectations clear to all student leaders in Greek life and other organizations,” school spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said in an email. “The university’s decision to revoke Kappa Kappa Gamma’s registration and recognition was not taken lightly, but it was appropriate and imperative in light of the severity of the circumstances.’
The school says Kappa Kappa Gamma may re-apply as a student organization in four years.
UConn sophomore and Kappa Kappa Gamma member Hillary Holt told reporters she was taken to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s off-campus house on March 6 and forced to commit humiliating acts, including being told to lie on the floor and pretend to “sizzle like bacon.” She said she was then pressured to drink alcohol to the point of passing out.
Holt said she woke up in a hospital and was told her blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08.
The sorority’s national chapter issued a statement in March saying it does not tolerate hazing and “will continue to be an advocate for anti-hazing education across the country.”
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, where the hazing allegedly took place, is expected to learn its fate following a review meeting next week.
The school also is investigating hazing charges against three other Greek organizations. Delta Zeta, Delta Gamma and Sigma Chi were placed on interim suspension in April amid allegations that men were forced during off-campus parties to eat dog treats, paint their bodies, wear women’s underwear and take alcohol shots off each other’s bodies.
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