Miami Hurricane, October 23, 2014

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Camouflage-clad University of Miami students
at a party in Brickell were the subjects of a video post-ed
by an account called Miami Parties on vimeo.com
in early October. The video, which has 1,333 plays,
depicted an army-themed party titled “Call of Booty”.
But this was not just any party. Some of the shots
show symbols of the suspended Pi Kappa Alpha
(Pike) fraternity, including a sign that reads “Pike Pla-toon”
and the official fraternity flag.
As a suspended fraternity, Pike is not allowed to
participate in any of the events sponsored by Greek
organizations on campus, including philanthropies,
athletic and social events.
One alumni who attended the event told The Mi-ami
Hurricane that the party was not an official Pike
event. He said that, after they were suspended last
spring, any kind of structural organization was gone.
To some, however, this party suggests that Pike’s
presence is palpable in the UM community.
“There is a belief that Pike continues to oper-ate,”
said Dean of Students Ricardo Hall. “They may
well have initiated new, unofficial or illegal members
to their organization. We don’t know. But I imagine
we’ll find out over time because they’re not at all giv-ing
any impression that they’re operating in secrecy.”
The Gamma Omega chapter of Pike was sus-pended
by national headquarters toward the end of
the fall 2013 semester. According to the suspension let-ter
sent to the university from the national fraternity,
the UM chapter was removed “due to activities that
were inconsistent to fraternity standards.”
According to Assistant Dean of Students and Di-rector
of Greek Life Steve Priepke, the national head-quarters
did not cite any specific facts or situations
that went into making that decision.
Those who were official members of the chapter
prior to the 2013 suspension are now referred to as
Pike alumni.
Several attempts to reach out to Pike alumni and
national headquarters were made with little response.
The Miami Vol. 93, Issue 16 | Oct. 23 - Oct. 26, 2014 . HURRICANE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IN CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, SINCE 1929
com
SEE PIKE, PAGE 2
Party video shows ‘Pike’ imagery
Vimeo account Miami
Parties garners 1,333 views
BY ERIKA GLASS
MANAGING EDITOR
ON THE ROCKS: An anonymous partygoer drinks from an ice luge during the “Call of Booty” party on Sept. 20. A video of
the party was released three weeks ago on vimeo.com under the Miami Parties username. It has been played 1,333 times.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VIMEO.COM
INFORMATION COMPILED BY THE MIAMI HURRICANE STAFF
Pike through the years The UM Gamma Omega chapter has
a history of violations and suspensions.
The UM Gamma Omega Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha
International Fraternity was suspended for 30 days
on March 21, 2005 for violations of international fra-ternity
policy and the University Code of Conduct.
Two incidents involving Pike initiated investigations.
The fi rst incident was an unauthorized, off-campus
party during Labor Day weekend. The second was the
initiation of ineligible members during the fraternity’s
spring 2011 semester.
UM’s chapter of Pike lost its charter for violations of inter-national
fraternity policy and as well as being fi nancially
delinquent to the national organization. The suspension
from campus was made for a minimum of four years.
Despite the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity’s suspension from
campus near the end of 2013, the Pike house constructed
continued. The house, which is expected to be completed
in the spring, will be occupied by another Greek organiza-tion
until Pike is reestablished.
2005
2011
2013
2014