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BU suspends fraternity amid hazing investigation

Boston University has suspended a fraternity while the school and campus police investigate allegations that its members participated in hazing, university officials said.

The disclosure marks the third  time within the past eight months  that allegations of hazing have been reported against BU students involved in Greek life.

The BU chapter of the Sigma Chi  fraternity was placed on interim suspension Friday afternoon by Kenneth Elmore, the dean of students, said campus spokesman Colin Riley. He said the hazing allegations were reported to the university within the past week, but did not immediately know the date the hazing is alleged to have occurred.

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The incident that may have included “extended isolation” and forced consumption of alcohol, according to the university’s news website, BU Today.

“We take any allegations very seriously,” Riley said. “And, certainly in light of previously allegations, it is very disappointing.”

Riley said the suspension bars the fraternity from using university space or the university’s name. The suspension’s duration and the potential for further actions by the university or authorities will depend on the investigation’s results.

Elmore told BU Today he met with the fraternity’s leadership before suspending the group and spoke with leadership of the Sigma Chi International  organization, which is cooperating with the investigation.

Sigma Chi is one of 13  fraternities recognized by BU, which also recognizes 12 sororities.

Michael Dunn,  executive director  for Sigma Chi International, said his organization is also conducting an investigation of the allegations.

“Our understanding is the chapter is cooperating completely with the investigation at BU,” he said Monday.

Dunn said he did not know any further details about the allegations and that members of the chapter are advised, “as a general policy,” not to talk to the media.

Fraternity members did not respond to requests for comment by the Globe on Monday.

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An alleged hazing incident in March  in which underage women were reportedly forced or encouraged to drink, led the university to suspend the BU chapter of the Sigma Delta Tau  sorority.

That suspension is scheduled to continue through the end of this calendar year. No criminal charges were filed.

An alleged hazing incident one month earlier led to 14  BU students, who were members of the former school chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi  fraternity, to be criminally charged with hazing, assault and battery, and failure to report hazing.

The national fraternity organization voted to close the local, off-campus chapter, which had about 30 members who were mostly BU students. The chapter was not recognized by the university.

Fraternity members were accused of ordering five victims to duct-tape themselves to one another and disrobe and were then covered in honey, hot sauce, coffee grounds, fish sauce, and mustard and ordered to drink fish oil, prosecutors have said.

Most charges in that case have been reduced or dropped.


Matt Rocheleau can be reached at matthew.rocheleau@globe.com.