Ohio University in Athens has ordered the Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity to immediately “cease and desist all organizational activities” after a first-year student pledge was found dead at an off-campus apartment believed to be an unofficial annex of the fraternity.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that Collin L. Wiant, 18, was pronounced dead on Monday after being found unresponsive at the apartment.
Wiant was a Ohio University freshman who had recently pledged to the Sigma Pi Epsilon chapter.
The university's dean of students says it is cooperating with investigating authorities and offering grief counseling support to students and employees. The university said in a news release that the apartment house where Wiant was found is reportedly an off-campus annex of Sigma Pi Epsilon.
On Tuesday, Martha Compton, director of the university's Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility sent the fraternity a cease-and-desist letter concerning all activities.
“The Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility has received information which alleges that your organization has engaged in conduct that puts the health and safety of your members at risk and its not in compliance with the behavioral expectations set out in the Student Code of Conduct,” said Compton. “This letter serves as notification that the Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity has been assigned an administrative directive to immediately cease and desist all organization activities. This action is being taken because the alleged conducts puts the health and safety of Ohio University students at risk.”
Compton says her office has initiated an investigation, and members of the fraternity may be required to appear before the standards office or other university staff.
