Kappa Sigma, a fraternity which has existed on Emporia State’s campus since 1977, had their charter pulled by their national headquarters following an incident at a party on Friday, Aug. 31.

John Windle, senior crime and delinquency major and president of Kappa Sigma, said the fraternity’s charter was pulled because a student was allegedly assaulted in their parking lot the night of the party.

“He was assaulted by a person that was underage,” Windle said.

Windle said the issue arose from the party being open and the report of underage drinking, and that, to the best of his knowledge, the charter was pulled based on the incident, not due to any ongoing problems.

The Kappa Sigma Lambda Upsilon chapter currently has 17 active members and eight probationary members. Their house, located at 136 W. 12th St., was built the same year the fraternity was founded at ESU. The national fraternity was founded on Dec. 10, 1869, at the University of Virginia on the ideals of leadership, fellowship, scholarship and service, according to Kappa Sigma’s official national website. Currently, the fraternity has 175,000 alumni and 13,500 undergraduate members nationwide.

Taylor Kriley, director of Greek Life, said that the pulling of the charter should be viewed by other chapters as a learning experience and as a reminder to educate current and prospective members about safety and codes of conduct within the Greek system.

“On one hand, I can see how there are members of the community and chapters who are wanting to know how they can support the Kappa Sigma members, but on the other hand it’s also an opportunity for everyone to look inside at their own policies and procedures and make sure that they are following through with what they need to,” Kriley said.

But while the chapter’s charter was pulled, an appeal can be made within 30 days to the national fraternity. Windle said that Kappa Sigma is planning on appealing the decision and that the appeal is already being put together. He also said that he thought the pulling of their charter wasn’t the best choice.

“I don’t think that it (pulling the charter) was unfair or unjust,” Windle said. “However, I think that other action should have been taken before revoking the charter outright.”

The absence of Kappa Sigma is already being felt within the Interfraternal Council (IFC), a governing body which presides over the fraternities on ESU’s campus.

Ben Reilly, senior music education and performance major, president of IFC and member of PDT, said that their absence affected a number of aspects of the IFC, including community service hours, IFC sports schedules and even finances from the loss of dues from Kappa Sigma.

“I’m really hoping that (the appeal) goes through because re-colonization is…a hefty process,” Reilly said. “It’s hard to do, especially if the charter gets pulled…it’s hard to get headquarters to re-colonize right away.”

Windle said should the appeal be denied, the Kappa Sigma chapter and house will be closed down at the end of the semester.