WVU frat members suspended for coronavirus violations

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University has suspended 29 members of a fraternity house for not following health and safety orders related to the coronavirus pandemic.

A Theta Chi fraternity member, who tested positive for the virus and had been ordered into isolation, attended a party at the fraternity house on Friday, the university said in a statement.

In addition, all residents of the fraternity house had previously been notified by the university to isolate or quarantine due to confirmed virus cases and close contacts.

The university said the 29 students received notifications letters of the interim suspensions Sunday stating they have been banned from campus and cannot take classes, including those offered online.

“Their flagrant disregard for the health and safety of their classmates, our campus and the entire Morgantown community will not be tolerated,” Dean of Students Corey Farris said.

The university also is investigating photos and videos from a large party hosted by another fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi. Neither fraternity is recognized by the university.