Students accuse the suspension of their fraternity at the University of Olivet of “degrading” harassment

OLIVET, Michigan (WILX) – A fraternity at a Mid-Michigan university has been disbanded following allegations of hazing of freshmen.

The University of Olivet has suspended the Sigma Beta fraternity due to “indisputable” video evidence of “alarming behavior.”

The university and fraternity declined to be interviewed for our article, but News 10 spent the day on campus and spoke with several students who said they had heard about the incident.

Although they declined to speak on camera, the students said that inductees into the sorority were harassed through humiliation. They say inductees were made to walk around in bras and underwear while sorority members pointed out their mistakes. The students further told News 10 that sorority members circled “imperfections” on the inductees with a marker.

The University of Olivet says it “cannot judge whether this information is accurate or not.” However, the university’s president, Steven Corey, posted a statement on the incident on its website.

The president’s statement reads, in part: “I want to say that these were not ‘mere’ incidents, as some in the Sigma Beta community claim. In fact, these practices were so disturbing that some in the Sigma community decided to speak out…. I also want to share that this is not Sigma Beta’s first recent violation. On April 10, 2024, the organization was placed on probation for violating the U-Olivet Treaty, particularly with respect for treating all people.”

Any form of harassment is strictly prohibited at the University of Olivet.

The Sigma Beta sorority has been suspended for one year. After the suspension, they will remain on probation until June 2028.

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