ATHENS— Fraternities are fighting to take away the right of universities to punish them for crimes like sexual assault or hazing until they have been convicted of these crimes.

Update 10:31 AM: Reporter Ellen Rittiner asked the North-American Interfraternity Conference and Fraternal Government Relations Coalition. They responded with a statement:

The NIC (North-American Interfraternity Conference) and NPC (National Panhellenic Conference)  believe that IHEs maintain the primary role in enforcing campus rules, disciplining students and ensuring that student organizations, including fraternities and sororities, abide by campus rules. Student organizations should have the same due process rights as an accused student when an institution attempts to punish an organization for alleged misconduct. Punishing student members of organizations for misconduct committed by members of other student organizations compromises the rights of individual students. Mass suspensions of student organizations like fraternities and sororities without notice and due process violate a student’s freedom of association and Title IX rights. NIC and NPC will lobby to protect organizational rights to due process. 

Update 10:50 AM: Ellen spoke with a student who says she was assaulted on UGA’s Campus about the Fraternity actions.