KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two University of Kansas fraternities have been issued cease-and-desist orders following “social activities” that the chancellor said violated county and university guidelines.
“We will not tolerate selfish and irresponsible behavior that puts the health and safety of our community at risk; that disrespects staff, faculty and students who have worked to prepare our campuses for reopening; that jeopardizes the long-term viability of the university; and that recklessly disregards the authorities of the university, city, and county,” KU Chancellor Dougals Girod said in a statement issued Sunday night.
Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Psi also were issued 14-day public health bans, according to Girod.
An expletive-laced video posted to social media Saturday night features a driver who claimed alcohol was thrown at him while he was in a driveway near The Gamma-Omicron Chapter of Kappa Sigma in Lawrence. A woman, who has been identified as the house director, approached the vehicle and addressed the driver.
“While it is regrettable that this incident occurred, it is equally regrettable that individuals have subsequently chosen to invade the privacy of law-abiding individuals residing on their property, including inflicting property damage upon our house this morning. presumably prompted by the video this statement references,” Kappa Sigma said in a statement.
Kappa Sigma also said that the fraternity members on the lawn of the house, which is on private property, were all residents “and acted in compliance with Douglas County guidelines pertaining to people residing together.”
“No outside guests have been or are to be allowed on the property in accordance with current University of Kansas guidance,” Kappa Sigma said in its statement. “Our members were outside to welcome new sorority pledges to campus, at the request of sorority chapters, as other fraternities did similarly.”
Douglas County and KU have both instituted the guidelines to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The man who recorded the video “claimed to have made a wrong turn” and recorded the fraternity members for more than five minutes, according to Kappa Sigma.
“When confronted by our membership for maintaining his presence on private property, he became hostile, used aggressive language, and threatened to run over our members,” the fraternity stated.
Girod also said not adhering to state or county guidelines “could lead to civil or criminal penalties.”
41 Action News has reached out to the original poster of the video on Facebook and has not yet received a response.
