FIGHT THE POWER: UVA fraternities are refusing to sign new campus requirements.

So far two University of Virginia fraternities are refusing to sign a new Fraternity Operating Agreement to resume social activities.

Alpha Tau Omega and Kappa Alpha have released nearly identical statements refusing to sign U.Va.’s new requirements that fraternities alter their activities following a two-month suspension on social activities. The new rules require a certain number of fraternity brothers to be sober and present and different places around the house and set limits on what kinds of alcohol can be served and in what containers.

The fraternities state two reasons for their refusal to sign on to these new rules.

The first reason is that U.Va., “for reasons that were found to be untrue, unfairly punished all members of fraternities and sororities.” This is in reference to the Rolling Stone article claiming a woman was gang raped at a Phi Kappa Psi party, which resulted in the social activity ban (without any evidence other than the uncorroborated accusation).

“Because we do not accept the validity of a suspension imposed in contravention of the existing FOA, university policy, Virginia law and the constitutional rights of our members, we are not compelled to sign a revised FOA to continue operations on campus,” the fraternities wrote in press releases that were put out separately but shared the same language. . . .

The fraternities have released these statements just one day after Charlottesville police found “no substantive basis” for the allegations set forth in Rolling Stone to have occurred at Phi Psi.

Next, Title IX suits.