The Gamma Iota chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha is returning to the University of Mississippi, the chapter announced in an Instagram post last week. The chapter will reactivate in the fall and will be involved in 2026 Interfraternity Council Formal Recruitment.
“Hotty Toddy! PIKE is headed back to Ole Miss,” the post said. “This fall, our professional expansion consultants will be in Oxford recruiting the next generation of Pikes.”
The chapter was suspended from campus in 2021 as a result of hazing violations that received national media attention. The suspension remained in effect until May 1, 2025.
The hazing incident, in which active members of the fraternity sprayed bleach or cleaning fluid onto blindfolded new members during pledgeship activities, took place on Oct. 11, 2020, according to University Police Department (UPD) incident reports.
UPD filed aggravated assault charges against James Bowes Higgins on Nov. 17, 2020, as a result of the incident, where one pledge member alleged that the substances were sprayed into his mouth, causing burns to his esophagus.
The chapter was officially suspended from campus on Nov. 11, 2021, having previously been placed on interim suspension closer to when the allegations came to light. Its charter with the national Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity organization was also suspended that month.
In 2023, the UM chapter of Delta Psi moved to the previous Pi Kappa Alpha house, located at 97 S. Poole Drive on campus. Delta Psi will remain at that location through the 2026-27 school year before moving back to the fraternity’s previous residence at 307 Fraternity Row, with Pike returning to the house on South Poole Drive following Delta Psi’s move.
The Interfraternity Council (IFC) will conduct an interview with national representatives of Pi Kappa Alpha this spring, with a release of the interview on May 1. Preventative measures on hazing and clarifying details on the chapter’s return will be discussed during the interview.
As of April 15, there were just south of 100 comments on the announcement post. Most of the comments featured students tagging their peers with the news, but others expressed excitement.
“Never thought I’d see her make the triumphant return,” Nick Douglas (@douglas_dude), a senior entrepreneurship major, commented under the post.
