San Diego State University

Hazing · Phi Kappa Psi

Prosecutors allege a pledge was set on fire during a skit at a February 2024 fraternity party, suffering third-degree burns, and that members tried to thwart the investigation by deleting social media evidence. SDSU described it as a hazing incident.

Status: Four members charged with felonies (recklessly causing fire with great bodily injury, social host/minor consumption, conspiracy); pleaded not guilty (reported Jan. 2025).

Response: SDSU Dean of Students placed the chapter on interim suspension (it was already on probation) and planned an administrative investigation.

Sexual assault · Phi Delta Theta

A lawsuit alleges a member raped a student at a Sept. 2022 chapter event held with alcohol during a university-mandated dry period.

Status: Alleged in a civil lawsuit filed 2023 against the fraternity and a former member; pending as of report.

Response: Fraternity said it expelled the member; SDSU said it would act when its investigation concludes.

Hazing · Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI)

An SDSU freshman died in November 2019 after a fall from a bunk bed following a Phi Gamma Delta event; the family's suit alleged fraternity members forced new members to drink heavily during hazing and urged others to withhold information from police.

Status: Civil wrongful-death/negligence suit against SDSU and others settled for $7.9 million (reported March 2025); no criminal charges mentioned in the cited source.

Response: SDSU suspended 14 IFC fraternities after the death (2019); Phi Gamma Delta's national organization permanently suspended the chapter in August 2020 per CBS 8 records reporting.

Hazing · Kappa Sigma

University records reported by CBS 8 describe fall 2019 hazing allegations including servitude, forced drinking and group violence, with injuries reported.

Status: Chapter temporarily suspended (Oct. 2019) and suspended (Jan. 2020) by SDSU; investigation ongoing as of Feb. 2020.

Response: SDSU suspension.

Drugging · Sigma Phi Epsilon

University records reported by CBS 8 show a guest was allegedly drugged at an October 2018 chapter event and that members delayed reporting it and denied it happened.

Status: Found in violation by SDSU; chapter suspended until at least Dec. 31, 2019 (2019).

Response: SDSU suspended the chapter until at least Dec. 31, 2019.

Hazing · Sigma Alpha Epsilon

University records reported by CBS 8 show a pledge was hospitalized after an alleged bid night in February 2018, which members agreed constituted hazing.

Status: SDSU investigation; specific sanction for the 2018 incident not stated; chapter under interim suspension in a 2020 investigation.

Response: Interim suspension (2020).

Drugging · Pi Kappa Alpha

University records reported by CBS 8 show a guest alleged being drugged at an Aug. 28, 2018 chapter event.

Status: SDSU investigation finalized Sept. 2019; outcome not stated in the cited source.

Multiple · Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI)

University records reported by CBS 8 show a sexual assault allegation at a 2016 party (the accused was expelled from the fraternity), forced-drinking hazing allegations, and a student's concern about being drugged at a September 2017 party.

Status: Chapter placed on interim suspension (Dec. 2016), probation (April 2017), later interim suspension (2017); permanently suspended by the national fraternity (Aug. 2020).

Response: SDSU interim suspensions and probation; national organization permanent suspension in 2020.

College staff misconduct · Accused: former Spanish professor

Years of abuse: 2013-2014

Three female students reported sexual harassment by an SDSU Spanish professor; university investigations confirmed harassment and found it more likely than not that he offered academic advantages in exchange for sexual favors.

Status: Found in SDSU investigations to have violated the university's sexual harassment policy as to three students (an alleged sexual assault was not sustained); he disputed the findings.

Response: SDSU forwarded findings to Faculty Affairs; he later left the university.