Kappa Sigs begin road to reinstatment
By Antoinette Vega
Staff Reporter

Cases still have not been filed with the district attorney’s office for the two Kappa Sigma Fraternity members arrested earlier this year for alleged hazing but the Theta chapter is making small steps to reorganize on campus.

Kevin Edmondson and James Synowsky were charged with misdemeanor assault in connection with hazing incidents that occurred November 2001, said Detective R.A. Gallaway of the Fort Worth police.

Letty Martinez, the chief district attorney for the family violence unit, said the district attorney’s office has no record of the case and has no idea when the case will be filed.

Phillip Thames, an alumnus and the district grand master for the TCU chapter, said before Kappa Sigma is reinstated the organization must go through three stages to prove their commitment to the values of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

The phases include community service, rewriting bylaws and developing programs devoted to recruitment and member education.

“The organization must ask to enter phase one of the process and is doing a good job so far,” he said. “With their community service such as Boo at the Zoo and adopting a highway, beginning the first phase will be easier.”

In May, the Kappa Sigma Fraternity was suspended indefinitely from the university and its national office for hazing, university officials said. The chapter was kicked out of Tomlinson Hall and is not allowed to promote itself or participate in any university activities, university officials said.

Former member Brandon Lobell said the fraternity has formed a petition to present to Campus Life to request reinstatement. He said before being considered, Kappa Sigma must submit its short-term and long-term goals and ways in which the fraternity has changed.

“We are going to have to work hard to prove we are different,” said Lobell, a sophomore business major.

Mike Russel, associate dean of Campus Life, said the fraternity is only allowed to ask for reinstatement after January. He said the reinstatement process will not be automatic. He said the fraternity has to follow the guidelines set by Campus Life including a minimum 2.8 chapter GPA and participate in meetings to find the values and knowledge of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

“Campus Life has met and talked with the fraternity members about where Kappa Sigma is at and where they are going,” Russel said.

Lobell said the situation has increased the brotherhood of the members.

“We are closer than we were before because we have had to pull together to get things done,” Lobell said. “Our main focus now is to be back on campus by spring and be fully active in the fall.”

Antoinette Vega