Northwestern University is investigating apparent violations of the school’s COVID-19 safety standards at a Phi Kappa Psi fraternity party last month.
University spokesperson Jon Yates tells Evanston Now that interim measures are in place for the fraternity while the investigation continues, “including a cease-and-desist order for all chapter activities,” as well as putting controls in place to make sure only residents are allowed in the building.
Yates says individual students involved in the party will also go through the university’s disciplinary review as they are identified.
NU adds contact tracing was carried out, and all attendees were required to quarantine immediately. All Phi Kappa Psi members living in the house have tested negative for COVID-19, the school says. Those residents “remained in quarantine until receiving negative tests.”
Spokesperson Yates says, “As a result of Northwestern’s fast and public health-focused actions, there is no indication that the event was a ‘superspreader.’”
NU’s overall campus positivity rate for COVID, he says, remains low.