Kappa Sigma Fraternity’s national headquarters recently suspended the charter of the fraternity’s Ohio State chapter.

According to Nic Wilson, executive director of Kappa Sigma’s national headquarters, the charter was suspended for numerous reasons.

“The matter is under review between national headquarters and the chapter. The charter has been under review and sanction since Fall (Quarter) for several reasons,” he said.

Wilson said Kappa Sigma’s national headquarters are still in the process of preparing a statement as to the exact reasons for the suspension. He also said that a decision on what will become of the OSU chapter will not be made at least until the Kappa Sigma conference on March 24 and 25.

Tricia Hackleman, assistant director of the Greek Advisory Council, said that she received verbal notification from George Dickson, Kappa Sigma district grand master, that the charter had been suspended because of financial problems.

“I haven’t received anything in writing. All we were told is that it was because of severe financial delinquency. There are a lot of rumors going around, but none can be confirmed except that the charter was suspended because of financial delinquency,” she said.

“Our nationals has suspended them for a $7,000 debt,” said Eric Weisgarber, 1998 OSU graduate in aviation management and member of the Alumni Board of Control for Kappa Sigma.

Pledges who become active members must pay a fee, and when fees are not paid, they add up, he said.

“They need to pay that debt. Then the chapter will cease to be suspended,” Weisgarber said.

He said the fraternity’s treasury function must be run like a business. Kappa Sigma will reevaluate “how the treasury is being handled” to avoid future problems, Weisgarber said.

Inter-Fraternity Council President John Wejman said he received notice of the fraternity’s suspension last Tuesday. Wejman said he is unaware of the amount Kappa Sigma’s debt, but that most national headquarters rely on undergraduate fees for most of their funding.

“You have to pay so many fees. If no one pays those fees, it goes under chapter debt. If you have so much debt, different fraternities will take different measures,” Wejman said. “Each chapter is responsible for the fees that they incur. I can’t speak for their fraternity, but for my fraternity there is a new member fee, initiation fee and lifetime membership fee. It goes for paperwork, books about the fraternity and stuff like that.”

Hackleman said when a charter is suspended or revoked, the fraternity can not be recognized as an OSU student organization. “They can’t have any activities under the name Kappa Sigma, no intramural sports, no Greek Week, no social activity in the name of Kappa Sigma,” Hackleman said.

Kappa Sigma President Andrew Ginnan refused to comment at this time.