UVA terminates Theta Chi fraternity for hazing

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The University of Virginia (UVA) has terminated its Fraternal Organization Agreement with a fraternity that was found to have taken part in banned hazing practices and undermined the university’s investigation into its activities.

According to the university, evidence was found suggesting new members of the Theta Chi fraternity were forced to participate in several hazing rituals, which included eating “various food and non-food items, including a mixture of heinous/unknown items and habanero peppers.”

This caused new members to vomit and become sick and, in some cases, they lost feeling or sensation in their limbs. They were also required to engage in acts of servitude, including cleaning the chapter house and running errands for active members, according to the university.

When the university began to investigate Theta Chi, members repeatedly misled officials and failed to cooperate and acknowledge responsibility for hazing, according to the report.

Theta Chi cannot begin the process of becoming re-established within the university until at least the 2028-29 school year, which is contingent on the organization ceasing all official and unofficial operations until then.

The university also says some individual students involved with Theta Chi will be referred to the University Judiciary Committee or Honor Committee.

This is not the first time members of this fraternity have been disciplined by a Virginia university this year. The Theta Xi chapter of Theta Chi at Virginia Commonwealth University was placed on a 20-day interim suspension in April for allegedly engaging in “conduct reasonably believed to pose a threat to the university community.”

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