Arkansas Tech University Bans Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. from Campus

DeShawn Scoggins was Beaten in Hazing Rituals


Arkansas Tech University has taken actions to ban a fraternity from its campus following four-month investigation on allegations of hazing.


Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was suspected of brutally beating student DeShawn Scoggins in a hazing ritual that landed him in the hospital.


According to the Arkansas Democrat- Gazette, the university released a statement Wednesday morning announcing the decision:


“On the basis of evidence from a four-month investigation by the Arkansas State Police, the Arkansas Tech Department of Public Safety and Kappa Alpha Psi Southwestern Province official Timothy Albert, it was found that the Pi-Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi violated Article III, Section B, 6 of school policy by endangering “the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.”


Members of the fraternity responsible for Scoggins’ beating may face felony battery charges, Fox 16 reports.


“Any type of report that we get about hazing, we respond to, and we respond to it very quickly and take it very seriously because it’s not something we would ever tolerate,” Arkansas Tech Dean of Students Amy Pennington told Fox 16.


Susie Nicholson, vice president of student services and university relations at Arkansas Tech University, told CBS 11 the university has strict guidelines against hazing and requires students to “sign an agreement before entering a fraternity or sorority stating they will not partake in such activities.”


Nicholson stated Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity has only “three members.” Fraternity member Deonte Bailey was suspended the football team for his role in the hazing ritual.