Fraternity returns to Tennessee after ban over alcohol

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A fraternity suspended from a Tennessee university after a student was hospitalized from what police said was an alcohol enema is returning this fall.

The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity said in a statement Thursday that it will be back on the University of Tennessee campus for the fall semester after a four-year absence.

The fraternity was suspended after a September 2012 party ended with one student in the hospital with a nearly 0.45 per cent blood alcohol level. A police report said he had received an alcohol enema. The student denied it.

The party led to charges of underage drinking and student misconduct and to the fraternity’s suspension from campus until at least 2015. The chapter surrendered its campus charter as part of a plea agreement, and UT formed a task force that pushed for reforms at fraternities and sororities on campus.

The incident led to significant changes to Greek life on campus to shore up accountability, including training, in-house directors, and changes to the way student-conduct cases would be handled, University spokeswoman Lola Alapo said.

Officials with Pi Kappa Alpha said the organization had a long tradition on the Knoxville campus and was committed to learning from its mistakes.

“That former behaviour serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of alcohol on college campuses today,” the fraternity said in a statement. “We at Pi Kappa Alpha are committed to educating and empowering young men to make good decisions and act like gentlemen.”

The incident involving a 20-year-old student became fodder for late-night television humour. The university formed a task force to investigate, and two fraternities on campus were closed, including Pi Kappa Alpha. The student recovered and returned to classes.