>>Danielle Hunter
Staff Writer
The charter for APSU’s Kappa Sigma chapter was revoked by the national organization and the fraternity has been removed from campus. Kappa Sigma has been a part of APSU since 1985.
The decision to revoke the fraternity’s charter was not a result of any certain action by the members of the fraternity, but rather by repeatedly failing to meet the standards of the national fraternity, according to Brianna Lombardozzi, coordinator of fraternity and sorority affairs.
“These standards vary. For instance, many fraternity/sorority headquarters set forth academic and GPA standards, chapter size expectations, community service hours, philanthropy donations, etc.,” Lombardozzi said.
APSU emphasizes the fulfillment of the national organization’s standards. While the university is upset about the national organization’s decision to remove the APSU chapter of Kappa Sigma, Lombardozzi said she understands the decision.
“APSU continuously emphasizes three primary tenets of Greek life: scholarship, leadership and service. Every Greek organization is based upon these standards and our programming and leadership development continuously focus on these areas,” said Gregory Singleton, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students.
Both Lombardozzi and the university hope that Kappa Sigma’s charter will be renewed in the future.
“We meet with organizational leaders routinely,” Singleton said. “Lombardozzi conducts individual meetings with chapter presidents … Each of our three Greek umbrella organizations [IFC, PH, and NPHC] all continuously emphasizes these tenets as well.”
“The general fraternity, fraternity alumni and university administration have worked together to assist the chapter but at this time the decisions to re-charter the fraternity in the future was in the best interest for this particular chapter,” Lombardozzi said. “As always, the university wants our chapters to be successful.”
The university will work with the general fraternity to re-charter Kappa Sigma in Fall of 2017, according to Lombardozzi.
