Pi Kappa Alpha becomes 9th fraternity to disaffiliate from Duke, join Durham IFC

Pi Kappa Alpha has notified Duke that it is disaffiliating from Duke’s Interfraternity Council, according to chapter president Jake Zanazzi.

Pike has joined the newly formed Durham Interfraternity Council, wrote Zanazzi, a junior, in a message to The Chronicle. Pike is at least the ninth fraternity to break from Duke after the University announced changes to the campus residential experience, including pushing rush to sophomore year. 

Although Pike is still listed on a Duke website as an affiliated group as of early Monday, Zanazzi wrote that he sent notice to the University on Friday that the group was formally disaffiliating. Emilie Dye, director of student engagement and leadership, did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Monday.

Alpha Delta Phi, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Alpha Order, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Chi and Sigma Nu have also disaffiliated. The chapters are all part of the Durham IFC, which began a recruitment process for new members on Sunday. 

Dye told The Chronicle last week that fraternities that leave the Duke IFC will lose access to “University funding, facilities, communications, housing and direct advertisement.” Their members are still accountable for off-campus actions, including violations of Duke’s COVID-19 safety rules.

Duke’s changes to campus life also include moving all Greek and non-Greek selective living sections to Edens quad next year. A University committee is currently reimagining the campus residential experience, and moving rush to sophomore year was part of the guidelines set out when the committee was announced.

Mona Tong and Jake Sheridan contributed reporting.