Will Fraternities Finally Face a Permanent School Ban?
How much unreported and largely unchecked abuse has already taken place in male-dominated Greek spaces, and how much more will we allow?
Source: Vogue · October 1, 2026 at 3:02 AM · AI-assisted report
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KENYON COLLEGE, OHIO; CORNELL UNIVERSITY; NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY; YALE, 1 OCTOBER 2026 —
Kenyon College in Ohio announced on 30 September 2026 that it will review its Greek‑life policy after a series of reports of sexual misconduct linked to fraternity parties.
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The decision follows a 2007 study that found fraternity members were three times more likely to rape than other male students, and a 2025 survey at Cornell University that reported one in three women had experienced sexual assault during their time on campus.
The college’s move comes after a 2024 incident at Cornell in which seven fraternity brothers were accused of drugging and gang‑raping a 20‑year‑old student who was also a sorority member.
The review was prompted by a growing body of evidence that Greek‑life environments can foster predatory behaviour. Kenyon’s own Sexual Misconduct Advisor, who began training in the spring of 2025, noted that the majority of calls to the anonymous student hotline involved incidents that occurred at fraternity events. “The overwhelming majority of assaults, rapes, and other boundary‑crossing situations that people would call our anonymous, student‑run hotline to discuss took place in fraternities,” the advisor said.
Kenyon currently hosts four active fraternities and four active sororities. The college’s administration said it will convene a task force that includes faculty, students, and alumni to examine the culture of Greek life and its impact on campus safety. The task force will also review the college’s policies on alcohol, hazing, and consent education. “We are committed to ensuring that all students feel safe and respected,” the dean of student affairs said in a statement.
“This review is a step toward that goal.”
The decision follows a broader national conversation about Greek life. In 2024, a Delta Tau Delta fraternity rush event at Northern Arizona University resulted in the death of an 18‑year‑old student. The incident, which was widely reported in the media, highlighted the dangers of hazing and excessive alcohol consumption. The university’s board of trustees has since suspended the fraternity’s membership pending an investigation.
At Cornell, the 2025 survey that found one in three women had experienced sexual assault was conducted by the university’s Office of Student Affairs. The survey also revealed that many incidents involved fraternity members. “These findings are deeply concerning,” said the office’s director. “We are taking steps to strengthen our campus safety protocols and to provide additional resources for survivors.”
Kenyon’s review will also consider the experiences of students who have been directly affected by Greek‑life culture. A former student, who attended Kenyon’s freshman year, recalled attending fraternity parties in the early part of her college career. “I was one of the lucky ones,” she said.
“I was an 18‑year‑old shivering outside a frat house in high heels and an insufficient coat, waiting eagerly to enter a space where the odds of reemerging entirely unharmed were not, and never would be, in my favor.” She added that she had later become a Sexual Misconduct Advisor and that her experience shaped her view of Greek life.
The review will also examine the role of Greek‑life organizations in fostering a culture of consent. A Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter at Kenyon has been cited as an example of both positive and negative behaviour.
While the chapter once organized a safety initiative that helped a member who had overserved herself at a champagne formal, the same organization was also implicated in a 2010 incident at Yale where members were forced to chant “No means yes, yes means anal.” The Kenyon task force will look at how such incidents can be prevented in the future.
The outcome of the review will be announced in early 2027. If the task force recommends a ban, Kenyon would join a growing list of institutions that have already eliminated Greek life, including Amherst, Williams, and Middlebury.
The college’s president said that the decision would be made “in the best interest of the student body and the integrity of the institution.” The review will also consider whether to implement stricter oversight of existing fraternities and sororities, such as mandatory consent training and stricter alcohol policies.
The review is part of a larger trend in higher education to address campus safety and sexual misconduct. Universities across the country are re‑examining their Greek‑life policies in light of recent incidents and studies that highlight the risks associated with fraternity culture. The Kenyon review will be closely watched by other institutions as they consider similar reforms.