When FIU suspended fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha for Facebook posts showing drug dealing, hazing, and creep shots, not everyone was surprised.
"Pike has always had a bad reputation for being meatheads," says one FIU fraternity insider. "Now it looks like that stereotypical reputation is pretty spot-on."
In fact, Pi Kappa Alpha has been suspended from nearly every major school in the state over the past 25 years, including high-profile cases of rape and suspected roofies.
See also: FIU's Pi Kappa Alpha Frat Suspended Over Facebook Posts About Drug Dealing, Hazing, and Creep Shots
Pi Kappa Alpha's national organization has tried to distance itself from the scandal at FIU.
"The International Fraternity had no previous knowledge of this Facebook group and was informed of its existence on Tuesday, August 20, 2013," according to a statement released yesterday. "The International Fraternity has been assured of the chapter's full compliance with the temporary suspension and subsequent investigation."
But the fraternity can't deny its long and troubled history in Florida.
See also: Pi Kappa Alpha Also Had Problem at FAU This Year
That trouble began back in March 1988, when four Pi Kappa Alpha members -- known as "Pikes" -- were arrested for raping an 18-year-old female student at Florida State University.
The drunken FSU student was found dumped in the hallway of another frat house, with scratches, bruises, and "crude words and a fraternity symbol written on her thighs," according to a grand jury report.
Of the four arrested, one was given immunity after coming forward about the crime. The other three all struck plea deals. Daniel Oltarsh, the alleged rape ringleader, ended up serving three years in prison.
The FSU incident came just days after several other Pikes were arrested for a similar sexual assault at Stetson University, an hour north of Orlando.
Pi Kappa Alpha was banned from FSU for more than a decade and was allowed to reopen a chapter only in 1999.
But Pikes have gotten into trouble elsewhere in Florida as well.
See also: Pi Kappa Alpha Suspension: Here Are the Rest of the FIU Frat's Incriminating Facebook Posts
The University of Miami suspended its chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha in 2005, although details of that incident are unclear.
In 2007, the University of Florida suspended its Pikes for four years after three women passed out during a September 2006 barbecue. The women suspected they had been given roofies; however, investigators found no signs of foul play, and a court later overturned the suspension.
Also in 2007, the University of Central Florida shut down its chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha after the Pike house racked up 28 code violations.
In 2011, Pi Kappa Alpha's UM chapter was suspended once again. And, most recently, Florida Atlantic University suspended its Pikes for suspected hazing. One Pike was suspended for two years over the incident.
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