Three Iowa State fraternities faced disciplinary action for separate incidents during the 2024-25 academic year, according to over 150 pages in university records requested by the Daily.

The university placed Sigma Alpha Epsilon on immediate interim suspension March 8 following conduct deemed “a significant and substantial danger regarding the health and safety of the university community.” 

A report from the city of Johnston led to Kappa Sigma’s deferred suspension after the fraternity held an event with alcohol that was unregistered with the university and “individuals” urinated outside the venue in public. 

Sigma Phi Epsilon was placed on conduct probation for holding an unregistered alcoholic event that also received three noise complaints from the Ames Police Department.

The Assistant Dean of Students for Development and Student Leadership and Director of Sorority and Fraternity Engagement, Billy Boulden, did not respond to a request for comment. Boulden is also the adviser for Sigma Phi Epsilon.

University Spokesperson Angie Hunt told the Daily in an email that the university is committed to preventing hazing and that all reports of hazing are investigated by the Office of Student Conduct.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon hazing part of ‘broader pattern’

On Feb. 27, Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity held an event that involved “hazing activities” that put new members “at risk of physical harm and psychological distress,” according to a letter on March 8 from Sara Kellogg, the associate dean of students for strategic partnerships, operations and compliance and director of student conduct, to the fraternity. 

“The chapter facilitated and endorsed multiple events involving physical exertion (e.g., push-ups until failure, tripod poses), coerced alcohol consumption and blindfolding as part of structured pre-initiation rituals,” Kellogg stated in the letter.

The fraternity also held events with “illegal possession, provision and coercive consumption” of alcohol by underage individuals and members “engaged in and facilitated illegal drug use” within their facility. 

“The chapter’s actions created conditions that recklessly endangered the health and safety of new members,” the letter stated. “These behaviors were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern that increased the likelihood of serious harm.”

Kellogg’s letter noted that their immediate interim suspension restricts them from all university privileges. 

A March 14 letter from Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Sharron Evans to the chapter stated that an initial review hearing was held on March 12. The chapter was represented by a national representative and a redacted name. 

“You indicated your request for consideration of modifying or lifting the suspension to allow participation in upcoming community events, based on my review of the available information regarding this matter, the Interim Suspension of Organizational Recognition remains in effect,” Evans stated in the letter.

On April 17, Kellogg informed a redacted name from Sigma Alpha Epsilon to schedule an appointment with her by April 30 to discuss methods of resolution.

If Sigma Alpha Epsilon is deemed responsible for the violations, a resolution could result in a permanent revocation of university recognition or indefinite suspension. On Wednesday, Hunt stated that the case was not resolved.

An archived version of the student organization’s page from Oct. 14 lists all officers and an adviser. All of the students listed are still enrolled at Iowa State. 

Requests for comment from the Daily to several former officers and the national chapter were not responded to or declined.

In 2015, Sigma Alpha Epsilon had its student organization status revoked and was suspended for four years for undisclosed regulatory violations, according to previous reporting by the Daily.

During the beginning of the 2020-21 academic year, the fraternity returned to Iowa State following several changes, including eliminating the pledging process and banning hard liquor.

Sigma Phi Epsilon held unregistered alcoholic event

The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity was placed on conduct probation from Oct. 1 to May 16 for disorderly conduct and violation of other university regulations or policies, according to a letter from Student Conduct Administrator Tyler Lennon regarding the party on Sept. 20.

A case resolution form finalized by Lennon on Oct. 1 stated that the probation is “more severe sanction than a disciplinary reprimand.”

“It is a period of review during which the student or organization must demonstrate the ability to comply with university rules, regulations and other requirements stipulated for the probation period,” the form stated.

The student organization’s president acknowledged there was alcohol at the facility in a meeting with Lennon, but said it was only present after the event. 

Lennon stated he discussed with the president about the definition of an event and that a casual observer would view the alcohol as part of the event. 

As part of the resolution, Sigma Phi Epsilon’s new 2025 president must meet with the Office of Student Conduct to discuss the expectations of members and how they will “establish a chapter culture of accountability and integrity.”

That meeting was supposed to be completed by Feb. 28. Hunt did not answer whether their status has changed. 

Kappa Sigma reported by Johnston

On Oct. 25, Kappa Sigma held an event at the Simpson Barn, which they rented from the city of Johnston. The fraternity spilled “alcohol/beer,” and there were “individuals” urinating outside the venue, according to a letter from Lennon on Nov. 14.

According to Janet Wilwerding, the city of Johnston’s communication director, an employee left the venue believing the fraternity would not arrive, but they were let in upon receiving a call from the Johnston Police Department that the fraternity had arrived an hour after the original time.

“They shouldn’t have been allowed into the facility but the staff person did let them in and that is the reason the deposit wasn’t returned because our staff had to clean the venue up,” Wilwerding stated in an email to the Daily. 

According to the case resolution form, Kappa Sigma was placed on deferred suspension through Dec. 19, 2024, for violation of other university regulations or policies, misuse of alcohol, failure to comply or complicity and public urination.

As part of the suspension, the fraternity had until Feb. 28 to host a staff member from the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Engagement and the Interfraternity Council (IFC) vice president for risk management to discuss event registration and requirements. 

The fraternity also could have “reasonable conditions” imposed that limit events and access to university resources. Additionally, the new president must meet with the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Engagement to discuss the chapter’s disciplinary record. 

The chapter’s president for the 2025 calendar year, Moises Valencia, a junior in biology, told the Daily that he agrees with the instituted violations “to a certain extent.”

Valencia, who was not president during the incident, said that the chapter submitted the event for approval through an app used by the university, which informed the chapter that the event was denial close to the date. Ultimately, the event was held to avoid “like $6,000” going “down the drain for nothing,” which led the chapter to create an emergency fund. 

“Honestly, we should have contacted ISU about it first and then registered before putting in any money into it,” Valencia said. “At the end of the day, it was our fault, but I kind of wish they were more lenient.”

According to Valencia, the chapter has “come a long way” and earning second place in Greek Week this year shows “we want to be here.”

“We’re more focused on building our relationship with the university in the IFC, especially from these last couple weeks,” Valencia said. “Our main goal is to be more involved in the community.”