Both Kappa Sigma and Alpha Phi were put on temporary suspension pending the results of a student conduct investigation. (Bri Nitsberg | Student Life)

The chapters of both Kappa Sigma and Alpha Phi have been temporarily suspended at Washington University pending the results of a student conduct investigation, per Dean of Students Rob Wild, following an incident involving students throwing eggs and potentially saying racial slurs at Bear’s Den (BD) dining hall, March 21. 

The Washington University Police Department (WUPD) opened an investigation into the incident on March 22, before turning it over to the Office of Student Conduct on March 26. Both chapters were suspended on March 27. 

Gilbert Grigsby, who supervises dining services for the South 40, said that he was present that night and saw students running around inside of the dining hall acting “loud and obnoxious,” with behavior including yelling, spitting, and jumping on top of tables. 

“They were wrestling with one another, I was told students were spitting in one another’s faces,” Grigsby said. “As I was walking back and forth, a young man and a young lady came in and I heard them say ‘we’re going to do this right here.’” 

Grigsby said that while he was unsure what they were referencing, he told them they needed to take it outside, and the male student tried to ignore him. At that point, Grigsby was informed that students had been throwing eggs outside.  

“When I went outside to look, I saw that they had egged the front door,” Grigsby said.

A dining services worker, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, said that they saw eggs that had been thrown onto the outside of BD when they were working that night around 9 or 10 p.m. 

“A student herself said that she had been a victim of the egging, she had to go take a shower because they had egged and she got the eggs all over her,” they said. 

They said that later in the night, they were about to go to work in Paws & Go when the students were running around, throwing things at each other, and being disruptive. 

“One of the kids was like, ‘let’s prank the cashiers,’” they said. 

WashU’s Association of Black Students posted a statement to Instagram on April 2, in which they label the incident a hate crime and urge the Office of Student Conduct to “hold all individuals accountable to the fullest extent.” The post alleges that, among other transgressions, the students involved were saying racial slurs, and calls for them to be expelled. 

Dining services worker Hollee Brooks, who was working the night of the incident, said that she did not experience any harassment from students.

“They were more erratic with each other,” Brooks said. “[It was] just drunk behavior, adolescent drunk behavior.”

Brooks also said that she did hear one student say the N-word but that it was not directed towards her and she was unsure if the individual who said it was part of the group that was behaving erratically because she could not see the person who said it. 

Grigsby said he did not hear any racial slurs being said that night. 

“I was right there to make sure nobody got into our spaces,” Grigsby said. “I did not hear that.” 

Though he was unable to see what students were responsible for throwing the eggs, Grigsby said that he was told that the students involved were in Greek Life organizations. 

“One of the kids was saying it was fraternities and sororities,” Grigsby said. 

While Wild confirmed that the two Greek organizations were being investigated for the incident, posts on Sidechat have alleged that it was for a scavenger hunt as part of the pledging process.

The anonymous worker said that they also heard it was in connection with a fraternity event. 

“From what I’ve heard from other people it was something to do with a frat week,” they said. 

Wild said that the University has a policy requiring groups, including fraternities and sororities, to report their new member education plans.

“The new member process is very traditional for sororities and fraternities,” Wild said. “Sometimes things happen that are not on the list that’s submitted to us, and if those are violations, we’ll address them with the groups.” 

Wild also stated that the University has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of employees and that the Office of Student Affairs has been in regular contact with Dining Services regarding the incident. 

While the Campus Life website is updated to reflect the current standings of Greek Life organizations, Wild said that it is unlikely that the University would publicly share details about any student conduct cases. 

Sophomores Daniela Urban, President of Alpha Phi, and Anderson St. Clair, President of Kappa Sigma, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 

Sam Kanterman, Director of External Operations for the WashU Interfraternal Council (IFC), told Student Life in an email that the IFC is unable to comment as the incident is still unconfirmed. 

“I will say we are all working hard to make Sorority and Fraternity life a space that does good in the community, and would be saddened should the alleged events you refer to be true,” Kanterman wrote. 

Grigsby said that he had never seen students acting that way before. 

“I’ve been there ten years, I’ve been supervisor of the South 40 for the last seven, I’m always mingling with you guys,” Grigsby said. “I did not understand what the behavior was about. I’ve never seen that type of behavior.”

Editor’s Note: On April 2, this article was updated to include a statement posted by the Association of Black Students in order to best represent the allegations towards students involved in the incident. Additionally, on April 7, the wording of the first paragraph was changed to more accurately reflect Rob Wild’s statements.