A Northern Illinois University fraternity has been temporarily removed as a recognized student organization following the death of a pledge that officials said involved alcohol and hazing.
Pi Kappa Alpha lost its status 10 days ago, campus officials said Monday. Additional sanctions could be coming against the organization and nearly three dozen of its members.
Freshman David Bogenberger was found dead the morning of Nov. 2 at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house near the DeKalb campus. Toxicology tests showed his blood-alcohol concentration was about five times the legal limit for driving. The cause of death has been attributed to cardiac arrhythmia, with alcohol intoxication as a significant condition contributing to death, officials said.
University officials say the fraternity members violated NIU's Student Code of Conduct with the event and said fraternity leaders failed to register the event with the campus or the fraternity's national chapter as is required.
NIU's Office of Community Standards & Student Conduct said it found 31 fraternity members in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Those students could ultimately be expelled from the university.
Authorities on Monday issued 22 arrest warrants for fraternity leaders and others who created "a situation where the pledges felt compelled to consume alcohol as part of membership initiation and the Greek parenting process," officials from the DeKalb Police Department and the DeKalb County Coroner's Office said in a written statement.
