Duquesne suspends all Greek Life activity after covid protocol violations

Duquesne University has canceled all fraternity and sorority activity for the rest of the semester after officials said Greek organizations repeatedly violated covid-19 precautions.

In a letter to students, Senior Vice President for Student Life Douglas Frizzell said that several Greek organizations had committed “repeated and egregious violations of the University’s Student Code of Conduct covid-19 standards.”

The university suspended social, recruiting and charitable activities for all Greek Life chapters at Duquesne. The suspension also applies to virtual events.

Individual students who were involved in parties and other events that violated Duquesne’s covid-19 policies are restricted from all on-campus activities.

Duquesne has suspended other students for violating covid-19 policies this semester and has handled “instances of some limited infractions by employees,” Frizzell’s letter said.

“In instances of focused outbreaks, some organizations have changed behaviors and adapted successfully. Despite several sanctions and repeated warnings, our Greek organizations sadly did not,” Frizzell said.

Officials praised most students for following covid-19 protocols, and encouraged them to continue to do so for the next three weeks before Thanksgiving break. They particularly urged students to use caution regarding Halloween celebrations.

“For Greek Life at Duquesne, the next several weeks are a moment of reckoning, and, hopefully, reflection,” Frizzell said. “Duquesne will look to see a mindful and serious plan from leadership in the Greek community to inform decisions about the spring.”