National Fraternity Sues Its Former Chapter at U. of Texas at Austin

A fraternity’s national office is suing a group that replaced its former chapter at the University of Texas at Austin, demanding the return of revenue, as well as furnishings, artwork, and equipment in the fraternity house, the Austin American-Statesman reported. National leaders of the Kappa Alpha Order suspended the local chapter in June, but instead of accepting the suspension, the chapter, now known as Texas Omicron, broke ties with the organization and continues to recruit members. The lawsuit, which was filed last week and accuses the Omicron group of engaging in hazing and other illegal or high-risk activities, says the property should be held in trust for use by a future chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order. A spokesman for the Omicron group denied the hazing allegations and said the national organization had no claim to the assets of the house.