According to Sigma Pi, International, the Elon University Epsilon-Theta Chapter has had its charter revoked as of Nov. 11.

Eric Townsend, Director of Elon University News Bureau, says the university upheld its three-year suspension of Sigma Pi. The university released a statement saying a campus investigation found evidence of hazing within the fraternity in Fall 2014.

Dr. Smith Jackson, Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students, says there will not be any consequences for individual members of Sigma Pi unless new information comes out.

Sigma Pi, International says the chapter has received a written agreement from Elon University saying the fraternity can return to campus in Fall 2017. Losing its charter means Sigma Pi is not recognized as a fraternity on Elon's campus. To return, Sigma Pi needs to also be re-chartered by the international office.

Dean Jana Lynn Patterson, Associate Vice President for Student Life, said the fraternity would be allowed to return to campus, "pending a detailed plan from the national organization for recruitment and new-member activities to be conducted by fraternity staff, a four-year member development plan, and an alumni board structure and training program."

According to Dr. Jackson, Elon's Greek Life staff met with the fraternity chapter Tuesday night to inform them of the university's decision.

Dr. Jackson says Rex Waters, Dean of Student Development, is working with the 12 students currently living in Sigma Pi's on-campus house to find them new housing for after fall exams.

Dean Patterson told ELN the president of Sigma Pi met with her on Monday Nov. 10 to appeal the three-year suspension.

The university would not provide details about the hazing allegations involving Sigma Pi. According to Dr. Jackson, the university began investigating the fraternity in mid-October.

On October 9, an incident report was filed with Elon University Police for hazing. It says three male students reported they were "forced to plank on bottle caps." This means they were forced to hold up their body weight on their arms with bottle caps placed underneath.

The report says the victims sustained "minor forcible injuries."

ELN asked Dr. Jackson if this report refers to the same allegations the university investigated Sigma Pi for. Here is the response he gave on Friday, Nov. 7.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWWx0n8jU5U]

According to the university website, Elon defines hazing as "any action or situation created, either directly or through innuendo, that jeopardizes the student's psychological, emotional, or physical well being, regardless of the person's willingness to participate."

Dr. Jackson says on October 28, Elon's Honor Board held a hearing on Sigma Pi's actions. Jodean Schmiederer, Associate Dean of Students for Leadership and Honor Code, and Dr. Patterson then suspended the fraternity.

According to the university, the chapter had 47 members. Sigma Pi, International said the chapter had been on Elon's campus since 1977.

ELN reached out to members of Elon's chapter of Sigma Pi, all of whom declined to comment.

According to Dr. Jackson, there are approximately three to five incidents of hazing reported each year that are usually anonymous.

Dr. Jackson was in a fraternity in college and admitted to being hazed while in school at the University of Alabama.

He says it can be hard for students in the moment to differentiate between hazing and tradition. He says pressuring other students is not what Greek life is about.

"It's not about hazing. That's antithetical to brotherhood and sisterhood. It's antithetical to academic achievement. It's antithetical to being leaders-all the things that greeks aspire to and stand for," Dr. Jackson said.

Elon University's hazing hotline is 336-278-HAZE. Students are encouraged to report whether they or someone they know has been hazed.