Date(s) of Alleged Incident: January 21, 2025 through the end of Spring 2025
Date of Initiation of Investigation: May 15, 2025 and Amended on August 29, 2025
Date of Ending of Investigation with Finding: October 28, 2025
Date Outcome Was Provided to Organization: October 28, 2025

Description

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received a report in the Spring 2025 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by Kappa Alpha Pi, Delta Chapter. OSCCS imposed a temporary suspension pending resolution of the underlying case.

A Formal Complaint was initiated, and an investigation was completed. The Formal Complaint was resolved via Alternate Resolution. OSCCS and Kappa Alpha Pi, Delta Chapter agreed via the Alternate Resolution process that Kappa Alpha Pi, Delta Chapter engaged in activities that constituted 1) Hazing, 2) Alcohol Related Behavior, and 3) Misconduct Related to Student Organizations as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. These behaviors included the following:

• Required new members to take the LSAT until 1AM.
• Blindfolded new members on the football field at 1AM in below freezing temperatures.
• New members were humiliated and demeaned at various points of their new member process, experiencing the following: verbal abuse during presentations and being told that they were "not good enough" in front of other brothers.
• The organization utilized a point system that included demerits and the possibility for negative points, impacting new members ability to continue in the process and be initiated.
• Initiation was held at an off-campus location and alcohol was present.

Outcome

Kappa Alpha Pi, Delta Chapter agreed to the following outcomes:

Deferred Suspension: The deferred suspension period is effective immediately through May 24, 2026. 

• During the deferred suspension period, if the organization is determined to be responsible for violating the hazing provision of the Student Code of Conduct, the organization will be subject to a three-year suspension.
• During the Deferred Suspension period, the organization is required to: Identify a new campus advisor and set up a meeting with the new advisor, chapter leadership, OSCCS, Campus Activities, and Kappa Alpha Pi Headquarters to discuss the terms of the Alternate Resolution Agreement (AR). This meeting is to take place within one month of the finalized agreement, or within one month of Kappa Alpha Pi identifying a new campus advisor, whichever is later.
• Complete Hazing Prevention training for all current and new members each semester.
• Establish a relationship with Kappa Alpha Pi Headquarters.

Progressive Restoration of Privileges: To ensure the chapter is successful in returning to full operation, the parties agree to the following multi-semester plan towards reinstatement of recruitment and new member education privileges:

Fall 2025:

• The chapter is prohibited from recruiting new members until the start of the Spring 2026 semester, when the chapter leadership will review recruitment and new member education plans with their headquarters and Campus Activities and incorporate recommendations and feedback.
• The chapter is required to complete hazing prevention education with all current members. This training can be presented by OSCCS, Campus Activities, Kappa Alpha Pi Headquarters, or a 3rd party approved by OSCCS and Campus Activities. Any cost for training through a 3rd party is the responsibility of the chapter.

Spring 2026:

• Recruitment events and new member education may only occur on campus in a properly reserved space between 8am and 10pm.
• The campus advisor or Cornell faculty or staff member must be present for all scheduled recruitment and new member education sessions.
• The chapter must submit a detailed recruitment and new member education plan to Kappa Alpha Pi Headquarters, Campus Activities, and OSCCS at least one week prior to the start of recruitment. Additionally, a new member list must be submitted to Campus Activities and OSCCS no later than 2 business days prior to the start of new member education.
• All new members must complete online training on recognizing and reporting hazing within 1 week of invitation to join the organization.

Fall 2026: 

• The chapter is permitted to resume recruitment and new member education (including initiation) with the following parameters:
• The chapter must submit a detailed recruitment and new member education plan to Kappa Alpha Pi Headquarters, Campus Activities, and OSCCS at least one week prior to the start of recruitment. Additionally, a new member list must be submitted to Campus Activities and OSCCS no later than 2 business days prior to the start of new member education.
• All new members must complete online training on recognizing and reporting hazing within 1 week of invitation to join the organization.

Resuming Activities Outside of Recruitment and New Member Education:

The chapter may resume hosting events, including social, cultural, or educational for members who are not related to recruitment or new member education and are not subject to the restrictions described above. All events must comply with the Student Code of Conduct and all applicable university policies. Additionally, the chapter will share a calendar of all planned events during the suspension deferred period.

Date(s) of Alleged Incident: November 11, 2025
Date of Initiation of Investigation: December 8, 2025
Date of Ending of Investigation with Finding: February 24, 2026
Date Outcome Was Provided to Organization: February 24, 2026

Description

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received a report in the Fall 2025 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by Alpha Kappa Psi, Omicron chapter. A Formal Complaint was initiated, and an investigation was completed. OSCCS, the Complainant, and Alpha Kappa Psi, Omicron chapter agreed via the Alternate Resolution process that Alpha Kappa Psi, Omicron chapter engaged in activities that constituted Hazing and Misconduct Related to Student Organizations or Groups as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. These behaviors included the following:

• Required and/or encouraged new members to complete physical activities such as a group walk/run around Beebe Lake.

• Utilized a merit system to track new member task completion.

• Traveled to NYC without registering the trip with Campus Activities.

Outcome

OSCCS, the Complainant and Alpha Kappa Psi, Omicron Chapter agreed to the following educational outcomes:

• The organization must review the organization’s new member intake process and produce a document that outlines a revised new member intake process.

• All general members of the organization must complete an online hazing education module and in-person hazing training.

Date(s) of Alleged Incident: September 17, 2025
Date of Initiation of Investigation: October 2, 2025
Date of Ending of Investigation with Finding: February 27, 2026
Date Outcome Was Provided to Organization: February 27, 2026

Description

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received a report in the Fall 2025 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by Delta Sigma Pi, Omicron Rho chapter. OSCCS imposed a temporary suspension pending resolution of the underlying case. A Formal Complaint was initiated, and an investigation was completed. OSCCS, the Complainant, and Delta Sigma Pi, Omicron Rho chapter agreed via the Alternate Resolution process that Delta Sigma Pi, Omicron Rho chapter engaged in activities that constituted Hazing and Misconduct Related to Student Organizations or Groups as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. These behaviors included the following:

• Used a points system to track engagement and reinforce professional habits (e.g. email etiquette, formatting, etc.). Points were awarded for proactive behavior (e.g. well-written emails) and points were deducted for minor errors (e.g. email formatting).

•  Covered windows of rooms used during the new member education process to emulate an intimidating environment.

• During chapter meetings, only new members were required to present to current members on their projects completed throughout the week.

Outcome

OSCCS, the Complainant, and Delta Sigma Pi, Omicron chapter agreed to the following educational outcomes:

• Disciplinary Probation

  • The Respondent will be on disciplinary probation through the end of the Fall 2026 academic semester (December 25, 2026). Maintaining acceptable probationary status includes complying fully and timely with the terms of this agreement and refraining from future Code violations.

• Fall 2025 Class Initiation

  • The Respondent will commit to immediately initiating all of the members of the Fall 2025 class in compliance with Delta Sigma Pi Headquarters and Cornell University expectations. Immediate initiation means that the members of the Fall 2025 class must only complete the requirements set by the national headquarters.

• Recruitment Pause

  • The Respondent will neither participate in nor conduct recruitment or intake for the Spring 2026 academic semester. The Respondent may resume recruitment and intake beginning in the Fall 2026 academic semester.

• Prior to beginning recruitment for Fall 2026, the Respondent must complete the following:

  • The Respondent will complete hazing prevention training.

  • The Respondent will submit an updated organization roster, including new and current members, to CampusGroups.

  • New executive board members will review the new member guide and attest via signature that they have reviewed the new member guide prior to each recruitment cycle.

  • The Respondent will create a New Member Process Guide that articulates University and Delta Sigma Pi Headquarters policies as it relates to new member intake activities and expectations.

    • The Respondent will review the New Member Process Guide with Campus Activities staff.

    • The Respondent will meet with Campus Activities once per semester to review the New Member Process Guide for approval before beginning recruitment or intake.

  • The Respondent will create a list of traditions that will be discontinued due to their inconsistency with university policy; the list will be distributed to all members.

  • The Respondent will comply with and complete all sanctions and/or outcomes set forth by Delta Sigma Pi Headquarters.

Date(s) of Alleged Incident: August 2025
Date of Initiation of Investigation: March 3, 2026
Date of Ending of Investigation with Finding: May 4, 2026
Date Outcome Was Provided to Organization: May 14, 2026

Description

A report of alleged misconduct by the Cornell Men’s Lacrosse team led to an internal review conducted by the Department of Athletics & Physical Education. The Department found the team engaged in activities in Fall 2025 that constituted hazing under the Student-Athlete Rights and Responsibilities. 

The Cornell Men's Lacrosse team engaged in the following conduct:

• Used electronic communications to pressure new team members into responding to sexually explicit questions;

• Facilitated “case races” and other alcohol-related activities during team gatherings hosted during new student orientation week;

• New team members were implicitly required to participate in humiliating activities including being subjected to observe upperclassmen in the nude, having food and condiments thrown at them, being required to participate in cleaning activities; and being subject to interrogation style tactics, including the use of bright lights, loud or repetitive music, and embarrassing questions.

Outcome

Cornell Athletics imposed the following sanctions:

• Limited the team's participation to one out of three allowable opportunities for Fall 2026 competition.

• Placed the team on probation from Spring 2026 through the Spring 2029 season. Any hazing or other significant policy violations by the team, or failure to comply with required corrective actions, may result in additional restrictions for the team.

• Required completion of a sequence of leadership and culture training across seven or more touchpoints, including:

  • Joint captains leadership sessions

  • Intervene bystander intervention training

  • Supportive Team Cultures workshop

  • Standards & Expectations workshops: Conducted by Dr. Greg Shelley, Director of Sports Leadership and Mental Conditioning, these workshops focused on reestablishing core team values, creating a statement of team standards, defining and refining team expectations and behaviors, and developing a comprehensive culture plan with accountability measures.

  • Asynchronous alcohol education

  • Participation in a Hazing Education Workshop is to be completed prior to the start of the 2026-27 academic year

• Required development of an updated team conduct agreement explicitly incorporating alcohol accountability, program conduct standards, digital conduct expectations, and reporting obligations.

Date(s) of Alleged Incident: August 2025 – January 2026
Date of Initiation of Investigation: February 4, 2026
Date of Ending of Investigation with Finding: March 4, 2026
Date Outcome Was Provided to Organization: March 10, 2026

Description

An internal review of the Cornell Men’s Lightweight Rowing team conducted by the Department of Athletics & Physical Education found the team engaged in conduct during the 2025–26 academic year that constituted hazing under the Student-Athlete Rights and Responsibilities.

The Cornell Men's Lightweight Rowing team engaged in the following conduct:

• Required first-year and newcomer pairs to give presentations on assigned topics intended to be humorous that became increasingly degrading and insulting;

• Held new team members in a basement and directed them to consume a concoction of alcohol and miscellaneous substances, and subsequently subjected them to blindfolding and humiliating words and behaviors;

• Pressured newcomers during a training trip to be nude while participating in races, and a group-sharing activity requiring team members to disclose personal and degrading information about themselves or others.

Outcome

Cornell Athletics imposed the following sanctions:

• Placed the team on probation from Spring 2026 through Spring 2029. Any hazing or other significant policy violations by the team, or failure to comply with required corrective actions, may result in additional restrictions for the team.

• Required a phased return to activity, including:

  • Gradual return to training following completion of initial education and culture requirements, as outlined below

  • Delayed return to competition, contingent upon compliance

• Required participation in education and development programming, including:

  • Bystander intervention and hazing prevention

  • Conflict resolution and harm repair

  • External culture-development programming

  • Written reflections and commitment to behavioral standards

  • Standards & Expectations workshops: Conducted by Dr. Greg Shelley, Director of Sports Leadership and Mental Conditioning, these workshops focused on reestablishing core team values, creating a statement of team standards, defining and refining team expectations and behaviors, and developing a comprehensive culture plan with accountability measures.

• Required implementation of student-athlete leadership development training, and a revised student-athlete leadership structure.

  • Joint captains leadership sessions

  • Intervene bystander intervention training

  • Supportive Team Cultures workshop

  • Standards & Expectations workshops: Conducted by Dr. Greg Shelley, Director of Sports Leadership and Mental Conditioning, these workshops focused on reestablishing core team values, creating a statement of team standards, defining and refining team expectations and behaviors, and developing a comprehensive culture plan with accountability measures.

  • Asynchronous alcohol education

  • Participation in a Hazing Education Workshop is to be completed prior to the start of the 2026-27 academic year

• Imposed individual student-athlete sanctions, including team dismissals, additional competition suspensions, and leadership restrictions.

Date(s) of Alleged Incident: Beginning on or about Spring 2022 and continuing through Spring 2025
Date of Initiation of Investigation: August 14, 2025
Date of Ending of Investigation with Finding: January 26, 2026
Date Outcome Was Provided to Organization: January 26, 2026

Description

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received a report in the Fall 2025 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by Phi Delta Theta, NY Alpha chapter. After further investigation, on September 5, 2025, OSCCS imposed a temporary suspension pending resolution of the underlying case. A Formal Complaint was initiated, and an investigation was completed. OSCCS, the Complainant, and Phi Delta Theta Headquarters agreed via the Alternate Resolution process that Phi Delta Theta, NY Alpha chapter engaged in activities that constituted Alcohol-Related Behavior, Assault and Endangerment, and Hazing and Misconduct Related to Student Organizations or Groups as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. These behaviors included the following:

• Encouraged, coerced, or forced new members to drink during the new member education process, including during “lineups” and to the point of blacking out.

• Required new members to put on plays for the brotherhood after consuming alcohol.

• Encouraged new members to consume unspecified drugs to the point of being “too high.”

• Required new members to stand in a line and recite the Greek Alphabet. If someone got it wrong, they did push-ups or the group would restart.

• Required new members to fill out questionnaires about themselves and then memorize each other’s answers. New members were then quizzed and were punished if they got an answer wrong.

• Required new members be punished with physical activities such as push-ups and wall sits during the new member education process.

• Required new members to chug a non-alcoholic beer, take a bite out of an onion or complete physical activities as punishment during the new member education process.

• Required new members to eat as much as possible at Spring Buffet in Ithaca before going back to the house for “Taco Night" where new members were pressured to eat tacos while tacos were thrown at them.

• Blindfolded new members and dropped them off at random locations at night.

• Blindfolded new members and took them around the house, including up and down stairwells. This included leading new members blindfolded through the house to a different part of the house for a ceremony where they received their "pledge name." 

• Took new members on trips without informing them of the locations, including to another university and a casino.

• Engaged in an activity called “Olive Man” where new members were required to strip to their underwear or shorts, cover themselves in olive oil, and wrestle brothers significantly larger than themselves. This occurred over multiple semesters.

• Required new members to participate in a “Fitness Test” where the new members completed physical activity prior to initiation. New members ran a mile as a group and/or completed other physical tasks such as push-ups.

• Gave new members wood and told them to start a fire in the fire pit in the back yard, without initially providing a lighter. After several minutes, new members were then given a lighter.

Outcome

OSCCS, the Complainant, and Phi Delta Theta Headquarters agreed to the following educational outcomes:

Suspension. Phi Delta Theta, NY Alpha chapter is suspended from university recognition or registration effective immediately and through the end of the fall 2027 semester; the organization is eligible to return in the spring 2028 semester. The loss of university recognition includes the loss of any and all privileges and benefits bestowed upon a recognized fraternity. Phi Delta Theta, NY Alpha chapter may seek permission to return after this period of time in accordance with Sorority and Fraternity Life procedures.

Date(s) of Alleged Incident: Between on or about January 16, 2026 and February 24, 2026
Date of Initiation of Investigation: February 24, 2026
Date of Ending of Investigation with Finding: May 15, 2026
Date Outcome Was Provided to Organization: May 15, 2026

Description

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received a report in the Spring 2026 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by Zeta Psi, Psi chapter. OSCCS imposed a new member pause pending resolution of the underlying case. A Formal Complaint was initiated, and an investigation was completed. OSCCS, the Complainant, and Zeta Psi, Psi chapter agreed via the Alternate Resolution process that Zeta Psi, Psi chapter engaged in activities that constituted Alcohol-Related Behavior, Assault and Endangerment, and Hazing and Misconduct Related to Student Organizations or Groups as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. These behaviors included the following:

• Made available hard alcohol during the formal recruitment process.
• Provided alcohol to new members during a “case race” activity (or “Great American Challenge”).
• Facilitated an activity where new members closed their eyes for induction into new member education where they were led to basement down 1-2 flights of stairs with hands on each other’s shoulders.
• Facilitated tasks for new members, including cleaning after an event, serving older brothers during dinner, walking dogs, dealing for poker, talking to older brother’s girlfriends, or giving daily news.
• Facilitated “pledge points” awarded based on how well new members did at that week’s activity. New members were given harder tasks the next week if they had fewer points.
• Facilitated Twister with new member’s legs duct taped together in pairs that competed to see who could participate longest.
• Quizzed new members on information about each other, older members and the fraternity. If new members answered incorrectly, they were subjected to physical exercise, yelling, and degrading comments.
• Required new members to complete an activity where they were instructed to complete a jigsaw puzzle that was dumped on the floor. Teams were given a lighter and candle but no overhead lighting. New members' hands were covered in honey and reported experiencing burns.

Outcome

OSCCS, the Complainant, and Zeta Psi, Psi chapter agreed to the following educational outcomes:

• Suspension. Zeta Psi, Psi chapter is suspended from university recognition or registration effective immediately; the organization is eligible to return in the first day of the fall 2027 semester, so long as the chapter meets reestablishment expectations/requirements as defined by Sorority and Fraternity Life. The loss of university recognition includes the loss of any and all privileges and benefits bestowed upon a recognized fraternity. Zeta Psi, Psi chapter may seek permission to return after this period of time in accordance with Sorority and Fraternity Life procedures.

• Deferred Suspension. Upon return from suspension in fall 2027, the chapter will be on Deferred Suspension status for one year through the end of the spring 2028 semester. If the deferred suspension is activated by a violation of the hazing provision of the Student Code of Conduct, the chapter will be suspended for three years. If the deferred suspension is activated by a violation of any other provision of the Student Code of Conduct, the chapter will be suspended for two years.

• Educational Measures and Privilege Restrictions. Upon return from suspension, the Zeta Psi, Psi Chapter will engage in the following educational measures and be subject to the following restrictions:

  • Fall 2027 semester Chapter-wide education on hazing prevention and bystander intervention.

    • Leadership training for Executive Board

    • The chapter is only eligible to participate in Continuous Opening Bidding (COB) and cannot participate in formal recruitment upon completion of all aforementioned educational training. The chapter agrees to submit a COB Plan for prior approval.

    • An identified new member advisor must be present for all new member activities.

    • The chapter may not host or co-host any events involving alcohol.

    • The chapter will have bi-weekly check-ins meetings with staff from Headquarters and SFL in preparation for fall 2027 COB.

    • The chapter agrees to host an all-member Review Meeting where the terms of the Alternate Resolution are reviewed with members.

  • Spring 2028 semester

    • The chapter may not host or co-host more than 5 Bring Your Own Beverage (BYOB) events.

    • The chapter is eligible to participate in formal recruitment.

    • An identified new member advisor must be present for all new member activities.

    • The chapter agrees to submit a New Member Plan for prior approval.

    • The chapter will have bi-weekly check-in meetings with staff from Headquarters and SFL in preparation for the spring 2028 new member process.