Fraternity Probed for Alleged Drug Dealing on Facebook

Florida International University's Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity is under fire for reportedly posting photos of topless women and drug solicitations on their private Facebook page.

After the alleged postings came to the attention of college officials, they slapped the fraternity with a suspension. The group, which has been in hot water before with the university, is no longer officially recognized as a campus organization and will be unable to hold meetings or arrange social events until further notice.

"The university is taking this information very seriously because it suggests possible Student Code of Conduct violations," school officials said in a statement. "The university took prompt action and placed the fraternity on interim suspension pending the outcome of investigations by appropriate university departments, including the police."

Facebook

Screenshots of what were apparently posts on frat's private Facebook group, which has since been shut down, show fraternity members offering to sell drugs and hazing new members, which is also prohibited by university policy. Requests for cocaine and Adderall were allegedly made and answered on the page.

One group member apparently announced on the Facebook page, "on campus for those of you looking for the Pike Pharmacy," and included his phone number for direct contact.

"Anyone have a connect for coke," another one group member wrote. "Not me, a friend wants, lol."

Adderall, a prescription drug commonly abused by college students as a study aid, was offered up on the Facebook page. Someone wrote, "30mg of addy 10 starting tomorrow. 15 for non brothers."

The chapter's fraternity headquarters, based in Tennessee, responded to the incident, stating that "The International Fraternity had no previous knowledge of this Facebook group and was informed of its existence on Tuesday, August 20, 2013. The International Fraternity has been assured of the chapter's full compliance with the temporary suspension and subsequent investigation."

This is not the first time fraternity members of Pi Kappa Alpha have gotten into trouble and faced disciplinary action by the university. Before the most recent allegations, the FIU chapter was already on probation for an incident on June 3, according to college officials, when fraternity members invited new students to the house and served them alcohol.

On July 11, the frat was found guilty by the college of throwing eggs at the house of a neighboring fraternity, FIJI. On April 8, 2010, fraternity members vandalized a student's car by using paint to write and draw obscene words and pictures. The windshield on the car was also cracked. This resulted in a nine-month probation and mandatory participation in an educational activity, decision- making workshop for the frat members, according to the college.

Frat members at FIU were unavailable for comment, but the group's regional president, Devang Desai, said: "We don't condone the allegations of the conduct, if they are true, we will take any and all appropriate actions as the investigation continues."

If the allegations are proved to the satisfaction of campus officials, the chapter on Florida International University's campus could end up on the chopping block.