Creighton University’s Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Theta Lambda chapter, is officially returning to Creighton after having been banned from campus in 2012. Creighton requested they come back to campus after meeting with a number of potential fraternities and determining that Creighton’s and Pi Kappa Alpha’s values most closely aligned with their own.
Thus far in the recruitment process, Creighton’s new Theta Lambda chapter has recruited 68 members. The goal was to get between 60 and 80, according to Josh Atkins —a Pi Kappa Alpha expansion consultant — with a low water mark of 40 and a high water mark of 80.
Pi Kappa Alpha was originally kicked off campus: “following allegations of underage alcohol access and hazing of members at fraternity functions,” according to a February 2012 article in The Creightonian, which included a statement from former Vice President for Student Life, John C. Cernech, who confirmed Pi Kappa Alpha had violated both university policy and state law.
According to the article, this incident was essentially the last straw for the university. Trouble with Pi Kappa Alpha began as early as 2002 when a Creighton student attempted to sue the fraternity for an injury she sustained after falling out of a bar window at their date party.
The plaintiff was admittedly under 21 and intoxicated, according to court records, but attempted to sue the fraternity on the theory of premises liability.
“She also testified the party was out of control,” according to the report, but the defendant argued those allegations were not relevant in regards to premises liability. The case was dismissed.
“In terms of alumni, we don’t want alumni from 2008 and beyond to really be a part of what’s going on in terms of our alumni development right now,” says Zach Leibold, another Pi Kappa Alpha national expansion consultants. “[…] We’re trying to focus on the older alumni. When we were here back in the 80s and 90s, we had a really great chapter and we’re focused on that coming back.”
The Theta Lambda chapter – originally chartered at Creighton in 1977 – became one of Pi Kappa Alpha national fraternity’s top honors chapter for many years, according to Leibold.
“We understand that with every organization there will be hiccups, but we want to prepare ourselves and be proactive and ready to deal with anything that comes,” says Leibold of challenges that may come with reinstating a previously banned fraternity and bringing it back to its standards of 30 years ago.
“A house is nowhere in our scope,’ said Atkins. “We happily sold the other one and we want to make sure that we have a good foundation with these guys.” The previous Pi Kappa Alpha house — located at 3100 Chicago St. — has been put up for sale.
The real estate listing on both Zillow and CBS Home cites that the house was owned by a fraternity for 34 years and “has the potential to be simply amazing again.” Interested homeowners are also told that, “The property is need of major renovations and will be a fun and rewarding project,” according to both Zillow’s and CBS Home’s websites.
Pi Kappa Alpha is continuing to open bid men based on recommendations and individuals’ own interest over the course of the rest of the semester.
“We have a really good group of guys, and they’ve been really welcoming and really embracing the brotherhood fully,” says Alex Davis, one of Pi Kappa Alpha’s recent recruits and a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, of the new fraternity. “[…] I think once we get our feet on the ground here on campus and […] getting our name out on campus, we should have a good name.”