IU fraternity closed after conditions allowed for spread of COVID-19

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — The Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at Indiana University has been closed through the summer after permitting conditions that could allow the spread of COVID-19, the Monroe County Health Department said Wednesday.

A department news release said county health officials, the university and the fraternity reached the agreement to shut down.

On Thursday morning, the health department was informed of a situation that happened the previous night. Fraternity members had “intentionally instituted, permitted, or maintained conditions which may transmit the spread of COVID-19, in violation of Indiana Code 16-20-1-25,” the news release said. That state law says, in part, “A person shall not institute, permit, or maintain any conditions that may transmit, generate, or promote disease.”

The news release continued, “Even more concerning, it was discovered that those individual members may have, initially, provided false information to law enforcement about their actions. Upon further investigation, a pattern of behavior was uncovered, which created conditions that had put the health of residents of Monroe County at risk of becoming infected with COVID-19. Those residents include Indiana University students, faculty, and administrators, as well as the general public.”

No additional details about how the fraternity may have spread COVID-19 were included in the news release.

A lawyer for the health department indicated an injunction could have been sought to prevent the unhealthy behavior and perhaps could have issued fines unless immediate action was taken by the fraternity.

On Tuesday, the university had issued a “cease and desist” order to the fraternity, and called it an interim measure placed upon certain aspects of chapter operations when there is an immediate threat or ongoing investigation. No other Greek chapters have been issued “cease and desist” orders.

Chuck Carney, director of media relations at IU, said in a Wednesday night email to News 8 that the shutdown “reflects the serious nature of ensuring student safety” as the university’s COVID-19 testing results have shown a decline in the positivity rate among students.

Fourteen Greek houses remained on quarantine Wednesday. Thirty had been under quarantine orders on Sept. 2.