Nearly half of Mizzou fraternities on probation

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Almost half of the 30 fraternities on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus are on probation, mostly stemming from incidents involving alcohol, according to documents obtained by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Fourteen are on probation, and five were to be removed from probation effective Friday.

Some of the violations led to suspensions, the Post-Dispatch reported. The Sigma Pi fraternity no longer is recognized by the university after documents said a new member had a blood alcohol level of 0.34 percent in March and bruising from what was said to be a hazing incident that involved being hit with a paddle.

Mizzou leaders gave the fraternity the option to have a five-year suspension as long as they disband during that time. The national group declined, and Sigma Pi continued to initiate over a dozen new members this semester. The group was banned for life from the university in October.

"While we value our relationship with the university and recognize the important role our chapter must play in promoting a safe campus environment, we came to a different conclusion about the future of the chapter," Sigma Pi national executive director Jason Walker said. "Sigma Pi has imposed comprehensive, corrective sanctions on our University of Missouri chapter, which both hold individual members accountable as well as focus on accountability and risk prevention for the chapter."

Mizzou student life administrator Cathy Scroggs said while Greek life leaders have made some progress, the process is perpetual because there's a member turnover every four years. Scroggs still has hope because students join Greek life to be leaders.

None of the 16 sororities also mentioned in the incident reports is facing similar punishment.

Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com