Two fraternities ordered to stop all events after altercation at step show

UPDATE: Two fraternities can hold events on campus again, but investigation on going. 

Even though the University of Memphis has lifted the social-events ban on two fraternities, the Greek organizations or specific members could still see some type of punishment.

NPHC fraternities Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma are able to hold events on campus again.

Many took to social media celebrating the lifted "suspension."

But the investigation into what happened during Thursday's step show, which ended in a confrontation and evacuation of the Rose Theatre, is still under way.  

Daniel Armitage, associate vice president for Student Affairs and the Dean of students, confirmed that the two fraternities will be allowed to hold events on campus, but they are not yet in the clear. 

“The Conduct office contacted me and recommended the order lifted,†Armitage said. “The investigation should wrap up within the next day or two.â€

It is not uncommon for the university to lift a social-activity suspension on a Greek organization even while an investigation is on going, Armitage said. 

“A cease order is to protect the organization and the university from the risk of any further incidents taking place while under scrutiny of violent actions,†he said.

However, "the investigation is still going on in order to find out if charges should be filed, and what those charges should be," Armitage said. 

Read below to see the original story and what some say happened at the step show. 

Two fraternities at the University of Memphis are being told they cannot hold social events on campus after a homecoming step show Thursday that ended in a confrontation and evacuation of the Rose Theater.

Now, many members of fraternities and sororities in the National Pan-Hellenic Council are concerned that the U of M will try to remove all chapters of the council. Some are even suggesting that the university treats members of the mostly black NPHC fraternities more harshly than fraternities in the mostly white Interfraternity Council.

Read: GUN ALLEGEDLY WIELDED AT SIGMA PHI EPSILON HOUSE PARTY 


Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha were both told by a U of M administrator Monday that they are not allowed to hold events on campus until an investigation is complete, said Daryl Anderson president of the Phi Beta Sigma.

It was called a “cease and desist†order, but it should not be confused with a court ordered cease and desist. The order to not practice on campus is from the university, not the legal system.


Also, despite the rumors, Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha are not suspended.


Many are calling this a “suspension†because Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha are being told to suspend all of their events

When a Greek chapter is suspended, the university does not recognize them as an official student organization. A suspended Greek chapter is not allowed to recruit or conduct events on campus. Often times a suspension can last two or three years. 

This order came because of a misunderstanding that occurred during a step show, Anderson said.


On Thursday, chapters of the NPHC were at the Rose Theater performing on stage, he said. Toward the end of the show, a few members of both the Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha got too close to the edge of the stage and fell off, according to Anderson.


However, it seemed as though they were pushed off stage, he said.


This caused members of both fraternities to start yelling and pushing each other, Anderson said.


Campus police, who were present during the entire show, ended the homecoming event and evacuated the building.

Many students who were at the event said this is how it happened, but a police report on the event has not yet been released. 

Some students said there are videos of the event, but none have surfaced online as of yet.

Anderson said no punches were thrown and that this was not a fight.

“It’s been blown up to a big ordeal,†Anderson said.

However, many who belong to fraternities and sororities in the NPHC system are concerned that the university will drop the hammer on the entire council.

“This morning (Monday) we got news that they may be trying to take away NPHC as a whole,†Anderson said. “They are trying to suspend all the black Greek letter organizations. We won’t let that happen… We are willing to face the consequences once we’ve seen a police report, which we’ve not yet been shown.â€

Daniel Armitage, associate vice president for Student Affairs and the Dean of Students, said he was not able to comment at this time on a current investigation. He added that the investigation should not last longer than three to four business days. 

However, he said that no organizations have been charged with anything at this time.

“I have not heard and I am not aware of anyone referring to the NPHC as a liability,†Armitage said. 

Responding to to rumors of that the U of M treatments NPHC differently, Armitage said, "We have been very consistent on making sure that all organizations are treated fairly across the board. Part of the reason for that is we have evaluations and people coming in to audit what we do on a regular basis."   

Armitage also said that there is no plot against the NPHC. 

"There is no plan at the University of Memphis, in my office, Greek Life or Student Affairs against the NPHC," Armitage said. "We only want to support this organization to make sure it is successful. We are very supportive of the organizations. We want them to succeed  We want them to grow in member ship. Its success is very important to the quality of student life." 

Many said that because the homecoming step show was a NPHC event that the U of M would use the outburst to shut down all the chapters.

“It’s always a possibility because they see us as a liability. Whenever NPHC holds an event on campus we are required to have extra security,†Anderson said. “They see us as a liability because of some of the things that happened in the past… the past is the past though.â€

On Monday, the chapters of NPHC conducted a closed-door meeting that lasted more than two hours.

Leaders in NPHC are working together to try to get the cease and desist order removed from Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha, Anderson said.

Many have taken to Twitter and Facebook.


Dantavius Swift tweeted directly to University of Memphis President David Rudd.

“2 NPHC orgs were suspended for a minor altercation, but IFC can have a fight with guns and not be suspended?! Doesn’t add up,†Swift said in the tweet.

Swift said that Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha are both in trouble for a “minor altercation.â€â€¨

However, when a gun was pulled out during an unregistered Sigma Phi Epsilon party in September, the fraternity saw no punishment and did not have to suspend future events until the completion of an investigation.

Swift’s tweet hits on a sentiment that many on campus are expressing — that the university treats the majority black National Pan-Hellenic Council more harshly than majority white Interfraternity Council.


“I feel like there is a racial issue with the decision process,†Swift said in a tweet to the U of M president.


Others on Twitter are asking for fairness.


Prataj Ingram, a member of Student Government Association, tweeted, “I think that’s something that can def be discussed. We don’t want punishments for pan/IFC just the same procedures and rules.â€