Suspended Penn State Fraternities Join SCIFC

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Two Greek life fraternities, Acacia and Sigma Pi, that were suspended indefinitely have joined the State College Interfraternity Council (SCIFC), which was established in March 2025. They are the fourth and fifth members to join the council, which also consists of Tau Kappa Epsilon, Sigma Chi and Pi Kappa Alpha and operates outside university oversight.

Earlier this year, both Acacia and Sigma Pi were suspended by Penn State following misconduct and hazing investigations. However, they continue to operate independently and are now choosing to affiliate with the SCIFC.

In May 2025, Penn State placed Acacia on organizational suspension after reports of some members being subject to misconduct and hazing, which included forced alcohol and tobacco consumption and extended periods of participation without rest. These reasons, plus lack of engagement, resulted in Penn State placing an indefinite suspension on Acacia, with a minimum of four years.

In April 2025, Sigma Pi was placed on interim suspension and would be placed on indefinite organizational suspension in July.

A July university release stated that Penn State had received several reports of “alleged physical and mental abuse, forced consumption of alcohol, forced consumption of undesirable substances, forced physical activity, and forced servitude.” The fraternity voluntarily withdrew from university recognition and was formally suspended with a four-year minimum.

All five fraternities of SCIFC have been stripped of their recognized status and privileges, such as access to campus facilities and university resources. However, they have continued to operate off campus.

According to Penn State spokesperson Wyatt DuBois, the university recently learned of the fraternities' decision to join the SCIFC. In an email, he said, “These rogue fraternities had been previously suspended by the university because of confirmed findings of hazing. When those hazing investigations were opened, both fraternities chose to preemptively remove themselves from university recognition, a step that put their members at further risk, particularly around hazing and alcohol abuse."

Penn State has strongly discouraged students from affiliating with any SCIFC organizations and has reminded its students that they must follow the university’s code of conduct.

Prithvi Sudhakar is a fourth-year majoring in cybersecurity. To contact him, email pzs5683@psu.edu