The Reflector

Media Credit: Aubra Whitten Police remove evidence bags from the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house.

Due to allegations of a possible sexual assault and alcohol violations, the Mississippi State chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity has been suspended pending the completion of an investigation.

MSU Police Chief Georgia Lindley said a search warrant was executed Wednesday after the allegations surfaced involving a weekend party at the fraternity house.

She said the alcohol violations were for minors in possession of alcohol.

In an e-mailed statement by the Lambda Chi International Headquarters, communications director Tad Lichtenauer said the chapter was suspended Thursday.

"The International Headquarters is in contact with local chapter leadership, university officials and law enforcement agencies," the statement said. "Additionally, local chapter operations have been suspended."

Vice president for student affairs Bill Kibler said the decision of the international office applies to the chapter's activities at MSU.

"We are in communication with the National Office and agree with and support this action," he said. "All their activities are suspended until the completion of the investigation and the process to determine any disciplinary action against the fraternity."

Lindley said the sexual assault allegation was initally reported to staff at the Department of Housing and Residence Life.

Housing director Ann Bailey said a student who lives on campus reported an incident to her staff.

"One of our residents did come to us and made us aware that she had an incident over the weekend that she was troubled about," she said. "It is someone who lives with us [on campus], but we cannot confirm where."

MSU and Oktibbeha County Sherriff's Department officers removed at least 11 paper bags from the fraternity house labeled as evidence during a several hour search on Wednesday.

No arrests have been made at the time of publication, but Lindley said there is a possibility that some could be made.

According to the statement from fraternity's headquarters, both the headquarters and MSU's Epsilon Chi Zeta chapter are cooperating with law enforcement officials.

Kibler said the university's disciplinary process gives due process to organizations.

"If we have an allegation that an organization has violated university policy, we initiate an investigation," he said. "Violations of the law, or extremely serious policy violations, we have the police investigate. We want to preserve the information that is collected by the police."

After the conclusion of the police investigation, Kibler said it is up to the university to make a decision about an organization's status.

"In case of a fraternity, punishment could vary widely," he said. "It can be placed on various forms of probation, which limit activity, while other punishments are more restrictive than that. The length of time can vary as well. It's based on the seriousness of violations."

When an organization is suspended from campus, it could lose university recognition, Kibler said. The time length depends on the severity of the issue, and he said the organization can appeal the ruling.

Since there are allegations involving criminal law, Kibler said the university is still in investigative mode.

"We are giving the Police Department wide latitude for the investigation because we don't want to interfere with the criminal investigation," he said. "We expect in the next few days we'll have all our info and we will see how we should proceed."

Heidie Lindsey, associate director for MSU Greek life, could not be reached for comment.

According the chapter's Web site, Lambda Chi Alpha has 49 members at MSU. The national Web site says there are over 200 chapters and colonies in the U.S.

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