ASUCR has drafted a resolution entitled “Resolution in Support of Kappa Sigma at UC Riverside,” which calls on campus administration, staff and faculty to recognize the Kappa Sigma fraternity as part of the university. In addition, this draft calls for the Interfraternal Council (IFC) to amend its constitution so that any fraternity can be allowed to join without being a part of the North American Interfraternity Conference Inc., which Kappa SIgma is not a member of.

The resolution comes just two weeks after Kappa Sigma lobbied for their inclusion at a recent IFC meeting. All seven presidents from the IFC chapters unanimously voted against the decision to expand the fraternal council, preventing the fraternity from being recognized on campus.

In 2012 Kappa Sigma was founded by 61 students and received a charter from their national organization in 2013, however, UCR did not formally recognize the fraternity. Due to their lack of recognition, Kappa Sigma is not formally allowed to have their letters on the campus quads or wear them in public according to the draft.

Vice President of Finance Shafi Karim, Vice President of Internal Affairs Michael Ervin, President Pro-Tempore Corey Willis and Senator Alan Alcantara are all members of Kappa Sigma. As this story is still being developed none of these members have spoken on the resolution.

Due to member’s close association with the student body, some feel that this resolution poses a conflict of interest. Nilan Gunewardena of Delta Chi stated in a Facebook post, “Today IFC, tomorrow your own clubs and organizations. Kappa Sigma thinks that they can leverage their authority within ASUCR to control other organizations on campus and tell them how to run and what to do. Tyranny such as this should be immediately put down. We MUST stand for the right to run our organizations how we see fit and not how a small group of people in power want things done.”

ASUCR President Ashley Harano, however views the resolution as an opportunity for the campus to contribute to an inclusive culture. “Student groups are one of the most important aspects of UCR. I remember at my freshmen orientation the amount of different orgs available to me was prioritized as something that made UCR so valuable. Any group that feels that they are ostracized based on their values is something that I’m concerned about.  Every group deserves fair representation,” Harano explained on Facebook.

Harano concluded her post by inviting the campus to attend Wednesday’s senate meeting at 6 p.m. in the HUB Senate Chambers.
A link to the resolution can be found here, however it has been heavily vandalized.

This story is still developing and is subject to updates.

Editor’s Note: The above article previously stated that ASUCR Senator, Dalshawn Bolson, was a member of Kappa Sigma. He is not and it has been amended accordingly.