Cornell University has just announced that it has revoked recognition of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, the Cornell Sun reports. Revocation of recognition means Phi Kappa Psi will be unable to function as an organization on campus, which includes holding events or recruiting members. The university gave a host of reasons for its decision on their website, all of them connected to the dirty rush event held by Phi Kappa Psi in October 2019 that was attended by Antonio Tsialas prior to his death.
The Last Time Antonio Was Seen Alive
“Christmas in October,” a Phi Kappa Psi fraternity tradition at Cornell University, was the last place Antonio Tsialas was seen alive. The Sun reports that much of Cornell’s findings into the illegal and unauthorized hazing event align with what our firm has alleged in our lawsuit against Cornell University and other parties. Phi Kappa Psi provided rides to first-year recruits from the Robert Purcell Community Center to the fraternity chapter house, where first years were compelled to drink large amounts of alcohol in seven themed rooms. Attendees were encouraged to vomit so they could drink more.
The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life’s misconduct board found that Phi Kappa Psi disregarded the well-being of their prospective members, as many of them left the party severely impaired, others blacked out, and still more were disoriented and nauseous. The article cites our own David Bianchi’s plan to get depositions from Cornell President Martha Pollack and other university officials now that our lawsuit has been allowed to proceed.
Read the full Cornell Sun article here.