University of Kansas

Hazing · Delta Upsilon

A 2026 lawsuit alleges that a 2025 pledge was dunked in ice water contaminated with feces, forced to binge drink (60 beers for a room of pledges), choked and threatened after leaving.

Status: Civil lawsuit filed July 2026 in Douglas County District Court against the chapter, the national fraternity and individuals; it is pending. KU sanctioned the chapter in April 2026 for hazing and harm to persons.

Response: KU placed the chapter on probation until May 2028. The chapter had been suspended in 2018 for fall 2017 hazing.

Hazing · Phi Delta Theta

KU found fall 2021 hazing that included forced sleep deprivation and destroying pledges' belongings. A pledge who reported it said he was retaliated against.

Status: Chapter closed by the university for five years in January 2022, after a national suspension.

Response: The national organization suspended the chapter, then KU closed it for five years.

Hazing · Phi Gamma Delta

An outside investigator found a 'comprehensive hazing program' that included urine and vomit on pledges' bedding.

Status: Chapter closed by the university for five years in January 2022 and cannot return before 2027.

Response: Closed for five years. KU had cited the chapter before, in 2010, 2019 and 2021.

College staff misconduct · Accused: former theater professor

Years of abuse: 2015

A former male theater student alleged that in 2015 a professor invited him to dinner at the professor's home, saying other students would attend, and then forcibly kissed him and grabbed his genitals. He also alleged the university did not complete its investigation and retaliated against him.

Status: Alleged in a 2017 federal lawsuit. The university settled for $200,000 in August 2017 without admitting wrongdoing.

Response: The professor was fired. The university paid $200,000 to resolve the lawsuit.