Fraternity recruitment continues without Phi Kappa Tau

The University of Mississippi Interfraternity Council’s formal recruitment week began on Thursday, August 22, with a record-breaking attendance of 1,593 and the exit of Phi Kappa Tau from the recruitment process.

Beckett Abington, IFC president and a senior accounting major, explained that recruitment began earlier this year because classes will start later in the fall.

“We decided (while) working with the school administration that it would be best to do (recruitment this week) since school starts a week later and we have the first (football) game the first weekend,” Abington said.

Abington also stated that Phi Kappa Tau would not participate in recruitment due to “internal issues.”

“Phi Kappa Tau, a fraternity here on campus, will not be participating in recruitment at this time due to some internal issues,” Abington said. “The university, in conjunction with the Phi Kappa Tau board of directors, has decided that it would be best on a national level for them to withdraw from this recruitment.”

According to Jacob Batte, director of news and media relations at the University of Mississippi, Abington’s statement addresses everything the university can share.

The Daily Mississippian reached out to Phi Kappa Tau on Sunday, August 25, and a representative declined to comment on the situation for publication. In 2021, the fraternity faced a one-year suspension from the UM campus following a Harassment investigation in June 2020. The suspension lasted until May 2022.

When asked if the fraternity would accept new recruits as part of official recruitment this year, Abington made the following statement.

“Unfortunately, things go wrong, people make mistakes and people do things that are unfair – not unfair – that are wrong, people do things that are wrong. Unfortunately, when something like that happens, there are consequences,” Abington said. “I only know so much about the situation as it’s over my head, but I don’t think they’ll be participating in anything this year. I think it’s best for the fraternity to look for more internal improvements and work together to create what a true fraternity should be, and I don’t think they’re there yet.”

In a statement on August 23, the IFC stressed the importance of attending educational sessions during Greek recruitment.

“We have informed all of our (potential new members) that if they skip class for any recruitment reason, they will be excluded from our recruitment process and will not be allowed to join a local chapter,” the letter to university students, faculty and staff said.

The message also stated that while the IFC recognizes that fraternity life has a major impact on many students’ college choices, the organization does not condone skipping classes for recruitment purposes.

“PNMs were required to fill out absence forms disclosing any scheduling conflicts with recruitment and courses before the formal announcement process began to ensure they were not penalized if they missed a class during a round of recruitment,” said Will Beatty, president of Beta Theta Pi and a senior political science major from Augusta, Georgia. “I believe this change will have a positive impact on students’ recruitment process by teaching them from the beginning that their education always comes first.”

The first step in the recruitment process, known as Round Zero, took place on Thursday, followed by the IFC meeting on Friday and two days of Round One on Saturday and Sunday.

Abington, a former recruitment consultant – known as Rho Alpha – spoke about the impact the recruitment process has on participants.

“I had a group of about 17 potential new members. I think one highlight (of my experience) is that I still know every single one of them today,” Abington said. “Each of them is housed in different chapters, and I’m still in touch with all of them… I think that’s great because people in fraternities shouldn’t just make friends within their fraternity. They should branch out and meet other people.”

Recruitment ends on Friday, August 30, when participating fraternities will make offers to potential new members.