COLUMBIA, S.C. — A judge in Columbia says about 30 University of South Carolina students in the Kappa Sigma fraternity house must find somewhere else to live before the new semester begins Jan. 12.
Circuit Judge Casey Manning refused to allow the fraternity members to live in the house since the chapter lost its charter, The State newspaper reported.
Kappa Sigma’s national office withdrew the local chapter’s charter for five years after an investigation found hazing and alcohol and drug violations. The USC chapter will appeal the charter in a February hearing.
Manning said the housemother and students failed to show they would suffer irreparable harm by moving out. The judge said they merely showed there would be a hardship.
The Kappa Sigma Housing Corp. of Columbia could lose $320,000 in housing-and-dining fees if the house is empty for the spring semester.
Corporation attorney Everett Kendall had told the judge last week that the university failed to follow its lease agreement when it failed to provide a 30-day notice of the eviction and failing to give the corporation a year to find new residents.
He said the school also did not allow chapter members to go through the appeals process before kicking them out.
