Kappa Alpha Psi Suspended for 15 Years at Miami University

In April 2024, Miami University in Ohio made headlines after suspending its Kappa Alpha Psi chapter for 15 years. The decision followed an investigation into hazing allegations tied to the fall 2023 pledge process. For those in the Divine Nine community and the broader Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO) space, this news hits differently. It's not just a disciplinary report — it's a moment of reckoning.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about tarnishing legacies or feeding stereotypes. It's about reflecting, protecting our young men, and preserving what our organizations were built to do — uplift, empower, and lead.

What Happened at Miami?

According to official university documents, the Kappa Delta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was accused of hazing four pledges through physical and psychological abuse. Allegations included beatings with paddles and canes, sleep deprivation, and verbal humiliation during late-night meetings that sometimes extended to 3 a.m.

The reported hazing was said to span from late August to early October 2023. One of the pledges is now being represented by Merriman Legal LLC, who described his condition as a “shell of himself.” The student allegedly endured weeks of physical trauma and mental exhaustion, all under the direction of current members — and, notably, some alumni.

It’s important to note that these are allegations. While no one from the national fraternity has been publicly charged with wrongdoing at the time of this writing, Miami University considered the situation serious enough to act. Initially, the chapter faced permanent expulsion. That ruling was later reduced to a 15-year suspension after appeal — a decision that extends through March 15, 2040.

Why the Long Suspension?

In a letter to the community, Senior VP for Student Life Jayne Brownell said the university hopes this extended pause will give the chapter time to rebuild and distance itself from any lingering toxic culture.

“Our hope is by that time, the alumni from Miami will no longer be an influence on the culture for a recolonization,” Brownell wrote.

Essentially, the university is betting on time and distance to help Kappa Alpha Psi return to campus stronger and more aligned with its founding principles.

A Larger Conversation Within Our Community

Let’s pause right here. For many in the NPHC and Divine Nine world, hazing is a sensitive topic. We often feel unfairly spotlighted in the media, even when we know hazing isn’t unique to us. But let’s also be honest: this conversation is overdue.

The Divine Nine was created to provide spaces where Black excellence could flourish — even when the world said we weren’t allowed in. These were spaces rooted in discipline, respect, scholarship, and service. If there are chapters where traditions have morphed into harmful practices, we owe it to ourselves to fix that. Not in silence, not behind closed doors — but with accountability and care.

We can’t defend what we won’t address.

Alumni Influence: A Double-Edged Sword

One of the more troubling parts of this story is the reported involvement of alumni in the hazing process. The same names were allegedly connected to a 2022 incident that placed the chapter on probation.

In many organizations, alumni serve as mentors, guides, and culture bearers. But when that mentorship turns into protection of harmful practices or pressures to “keep traditions alive” at all costs, it’s time for a reset. Elder members have the power to either perpetuate harm or create healing.

Let’s choose healing.

Looking Ahead: What This Means for Kappa and Other BGLOs

Kappa Alpha Psi is far more than a single chapter. It’s a legacy of scholarship, achievement, and brotherhood dating back to 1911. The actions of one chapter don’t define an entire organization. But what we do next — how we learn, adapt, and reform — will say everything about who we are becoming.

At Miami, the fraternity will forfeit all university-recognized privileges during its suspension and will need to undergo anti-hazing training before reinstatement. The long timeline is both a punishment and an opportunity — a blank canvas to reimagine what the next generation of Kappa men on that campus will look like.

What About Other Fraternities?

Kappa Alpha Psi isn’t alone in facing scrutiny. Earlier this year, Miami University also suspended Sigma Alpha Epsilon after similar hazing claims. Nationwide, campuses are cracking down on hazing — and rightfully so.

This isn’t an attack on Greek life. It’s a call to elevate it.

A Word to Our Community

If you’re reading this and you’re a member of a fraternity or sorority — especially a Divine Nine org — this isn’t about “bad PR.” It’s about preserving our house. We built these organizations to be sacred spaces. Let’s not allow silence, ego, or misplaced loyalty to erode their foundations.

Let’s recommit to mentorship over mistreatment.

Let’s pour into our undergrads with love, structure, and guidance.

Let’s teach them that being part of something bigger means being held to a higher standard.

And most of all — let’s do the work to keep our legacy alive, with integrity.

Because the truth is, every chapter is only one decision away from the same headlines.

Let’s be better.

Editor’s Note: This blog was written for reflection and growth — not condemnation. If you're part of the Divine Nine, we welcome your thoughts, stories, and solutions. Together, we rise. #D9Unity #HBCUOnly