Students react to FIU fraternity suspension

University suspends fraternity chapter following series of Facebook posts

MIAMI ā€“ It's a very quiet Pike house after a very loud yet anonymous whistleblower blew the lid off the fraternity's Facebook postings, leading first to an interim suspension by Florida International University, and now the indefinite shutdown by the Supreme Council of Pi Kappa Alpha.

FIU students are now reacting to the news that the active Pike frat is now a closed chapter, after having the book thrown at the fraternity's FIU chapter by its Memphis, Tenn.-based international headquarters.

VIEW: Letter from FIU president on suspension

"I'm just like, 'Wow,' because they were really like involved in our community and stuff, and now it's like just one less of a fraternity," said student Aimee Chin-Sang. "I was really surprised. It's embarrassing."

Pi Kappa Alpha's Board of Directors, working closely with the university, voted to immediately suspend the charter of the Kappa Gamma chapter, following the release of 70 social media posts admitting to numerous violations of fraternity standards.

Some of the FIU Pikes are accused of posting on Facebook photos of half-naked girls they apparently dated, ads for selling the prescription drug Adderall on the West Miami-Dade campus for $5 from the so-called "Pike Pharmacy," as well as making references to hazing new members.

"I've been to one, yeah," said Prateek Pawar. "It was good. It was a nice experience."

"The behavior displayed by these young men is disgraceful, offensive and indefensible," the fraternity's international executive vice president, said in a statement released Friday morning. "The immediate decision to suspend by the Supreme Council was made to communicate clearly that this type of behavior is not tolerated."

Local 10 News has also confirmed that the FIU Pikes have been in trouble several times before with the university, accused and punished for underage drinking at Pike parties in the campus frat house, and egging another fraternity's house in 2008.

"Ultimately, it's always going to reflect back on the campus and overall for Greeks in general," said Brett Ellis. "It's just sad and gives all frats a bad name."

The investigation, as it continues, could result in student expulsions from FIU and criminal prosecutions.