--- title: A fraternity’s return to campus puts students at risk description: When should a fraternity with a history of hazing be allowed back on campus? Louisiana State University confronts that question with the return of DKE image: https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/DKE%20Blog%20hero.png --- [Skip to content](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/fraternity-return-to-campus-puts-students-at-risk#main-content) [![UpdatedHlogo](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hs-fs/hubfs/UpdatedHlogo.png?width=2300&height=500&name=UpdatedHlogo.png "UpdatedHlogo")](https://www.hazinginfo.org/) - [Home](https://www.hazinginfo.org/) - [All Posts](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog) ![The front of a large home with a gabled roof with the Greek letters DKE over the entry.](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/DKE%20Blog%20hero.png) # A fraternity’s return to campus puts students at risk ![Le'Ge Watts](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/LeGe.png) [Le'Ge Watts January 21, 2026](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/author/lege-watts) - [Editorial](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/tag/editorial) - 5 mins ## Louisiana State University needs to show that no chapter is untouchable and that no one should ever be hazed ![LeGe inset image](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hs-fs/hubfs/LeGe%20inset%20image.png?width=245&height=245&name=LeGe%20inset%20image.png)When should a fraternity with a history of hazing be allowed to return to campus? That’s the question we’re facing at [Louisiana State University](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-louisiana-state-university-and-agricultural--mechanical-college/r/recBl4EdJfF8pPbK7) in Baton Rouge. In 2019, Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, known as DKE, was suspended for 10 years at LSU after members were found responsible for severe hazing. DKE pledges were kicked by members wearing steel-toed boots. They were made to lie down on broken glass, then urinated on by members. They were forced to submerge themselves in an ice machine in their underwear, according to [arrest reports](https://www.wafb.com/2019/02/14/arrest-reports-claim-lsu-pledges-were-beaten-urinated-hazing-rituals/) at the time. Nine members were arrested in connection with the hazing. Last fall, students learned that DKE is returning to our campus, a full four years before their suspension was due to expire. But what guarantee do we have as students that this fraternity has truly reformed?  ### **DKE’s history of misconduct** What happened at the DKE house wasn’t just a one-off incident. The DKE chapter at LSU has been reprimanded multiple times for misconduct, including for violating LSU’s alcohol policy in 2017, violating the student conduct code in 2015, and a [bizarre incident with a goat](https://lsureveille.com/179345/uncategorized/goat-discovered-in-dke-house-after-initiation/) in 2006 that was discovered during a police raid of the chapter house, according to the *LSU Reveille*, our student newspaper. The passing of time does not lessen the gravity of the harm. “What happened was not only irresponsible but cruel, dangerous, and inhumane,” said Giselle, an LSU student who asked to withhold her last name for fear of jeopardizing her scholarship. "I think that it'll take a lot to rebuild trust. Students deserve to feel safe and not worry about being hazed,” a member of the LSU Student Senate told me. He also asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions on campus. Some students, including myself, believe reinstating DKE weakens the safety standards that should exist on our campus. ### **DKE is one of the nation’s deadliest fraternities** Nationally, Delta Kappa Epsilon is one of the top three deadliest college student organizations for hazing, with 10 deaths attributed to hazing at six different DKE chapters across the country between 1892 and 2003, according to [HazingInfo.org](http://hazinginfo.org/)’s Hazing Deaths Database.   In more recent years, HazingInfo has found a number of hazing incidents and allegations involving DKE:  - New York University’s DKE chapter is currently [suspended](https://www.nyu.edu/students/getting-involved/clubs-and-organizations/greek-life/suspended-chapters.html) after being found responsible for hazing and disorderly conduct. - In 2024, DKE at Ohio State University was [sanctioned](https://studentconduct.osu.edu/organizations/organization-and-hazing-violations-campus-hazing-transparency-report) for pressuring a new member to consume vinegar until he fell ill. That incident followed two previous hazing sanctions in 2022 and 2023. - Students at Michigan State University [protested](https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2021/11/msua-dke-fraternity-faces-demands-for-accountability-on-its-doorstep/) outside the DKE house in 2021 to bring attention to hazing allegations. - In 2021, DKE was [investigated](https://conduct.lafayette.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/2025/08/Hazing-Reported-2025-July-1.pdf) for hazing by Lafayette College in Easton, PA, after a student sustained a serious injury. No charges were filed. DKE’s hazing history is not unique. Hazing in Greek letter organizations and other types of student organizations is a nationwide — and seriously under-recognized — problem.  The deaths of pledges in other fraternities (for example, the [hazing death of Max Gruver at LSU in 2017](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/state_of_hazing_louisiana)) led Louisiana to pass the Max Gruver Act in 2018, making hazing a felony.  ### **DKE’s return to LSU was approved by other fraternities** In LSU's case, what evidence is there to show that DKE is reformed and ready to begin recruiting again on our campus? What concerns me most is LSU’s role — in reality, the abdication of its role — in allowing DKE’s return. The *LSU Reveille* reported that the [LSU administration reviewed but did not approve](https://lsureveille.com/265661/news/lsu-dke-pi-kappa-phi-suspended-fraternities/) DKE’s application to re-establish a chapter on campus.  The approval was left to the Interfraternity Council, a governing body of students from the university’s fraternities.  The university has a responsibility to protect students. But leaving the decision on DKE’s return to students in other fraternities makes me question whether safety is actually being prioritized. LSU’s Greek life director told the *LSU Reveille* that the administration considered DKE’s request for an early return because “[a significant suspension has been served](https://lsureveille.com/265661/news/lsu-dke-pi-kappa-phi-suspended-fraternities/).” Why is DKE getting time off for “good behavior”? ### **Student safety at stake** Personally, this situation scares me. It makes me think about my friends, younger students, and anyone new to campus. Are they really safe? How are students supposed to feel secure when those responsible for dangerous hazing face almost no consequences and the organization is allowed back as if nothing happened?  LSU has a duty to put student safety first and a responsibility to enforce strict oversight of DKE and all organizations with hazing histories. University leaders need to show that no chapter is untouchable, that accountability matters, and that no one should ever be hazed.  Students deserve transparency, accountability, and clear consequences. They also can help create hazing-free campuses.  By speaking out, supporting anti-hazing initiatives, and holding universities accountable, students can make a difference.  By demanding accountability here, we can help create safer campuses everywhere. We owe it to past victims, current students, and anyone who will walk onto campus in the future to ensure these life-threatening practices never happen again. ![Le'Ge Watts](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/LeGe.png) ### Le'Ge Watts Le’Ge Watts is an Agricultural Engineering major at Louisiana State University, a member of the HazingInfo Student Advisory Committee, and vice president of LSU’s Black Girls Vote chapter. ## Latest posts - [ALL POSTS](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/all) [![A large billboard near a stadium displays the words "Welcome to K-State" with a purple background.](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/Kansas%20State.png)](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-the-midwest) [Fraternity hazing](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/tag/fraternity-hazing) [Hazing laws](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/tag/hazing-laws) Thu, Oct 8, 2026 ### [College hazing in the Midwest](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-the-midwest) [![A diverse group of college students sits in a classroom, checking their cell phones.](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/Auburn%20(1).png)](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/new-hazing-data-2026-27) [HazingInfo.org Updates](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/tag/hazinginfo-org-updates) Wed, Sep 30, 2026 ### [New hazing data for 2026-27](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/new-hazing-data-2026-27) --- Contact us:  [info@hazinginfo.org](mailto:info@hazinginfo.org) [Contact form](https://www.hazinginfo.org/contact-us) ## [Subscribe to our newsletter](https://www.hazinginfo.org/newsletter-sign-up)   HazingInfo.org PO Box 40003, Bellevue, WA 98015 --- - [Privacy](https://www.hazinginfo.org/privacy-policy) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/hazinginfo) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/99420445) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.instagram.com/hazinginfo) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/@HazingInfo) [Follow us on Facebook](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/info@hazinginfo.org) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.hazinginfo.org/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Le'Ge Watts", "url" : "https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/author/lege-watts" }, "dateModified" : "2026-01-21T21:46:50.266Z", "datePublished" : "2026-01-21T00:27:21.000Z", "headline" : "A fraternity’s return to campus puts students at risk", "image" : [ "https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/DKE%20Blog%20hero.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/fraternity-return-to-campus-puts-students-at-risk", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/UpdatedHlogo.png" } } } ```