Lehigh University has booted a sorority from its campus for hosting a scavenger hunt that involved drugs, alcohol and sexual activity, school officials said. 
 
 The sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, lost its organizational status as of March 5, according to the Lehigh Greek Community blog which is published by the university. The group will remain banned from campus until May 2020. During that time, the sorority may not use the Lehigh University name or any university facilities, according to the post. 
 
 The ban came after Alpha Chi Omega hosted a scavenger hunt in December called the Road Rally. Participants were given a list of tasks that involved “the use of drugs and alcohol, sexual activity and other activities that violate Lehigh University policy,” according to the post. 
 
 On Dec. 12, the chapter was placed on interim suspension and ordered to cease and desist all activities until a committee could complete an investigation, the post states. During that probe, the chapter turned over a complete scavenger hunt list as well as lists of members’ completed tasks. 
 
 At a March 5 hearing, Alpha Chi Omega was found to be responsible for hazing and other offenses after a university committee found the entire chapter was aware of the event and it was endorsed by chapter leadership. 
 
 The sorority’s National Council in Indianapolis, Ind., announced Monday that, after an internal investigation, it has expelled a large number of its Lehigh members for their “disturbing” actions. 
 
 “Following our initial review, we immediately rescinded the membership of nearly one-third of the members of the chapter – those women who were most directly involved with this incident,” said Erin K. Witt, who provided the statement from the national Alpha Chi Omega organization. 
 
 “Furthermore, we continued to cooperate fully with Lehigh’s investigation. Taking into account additional information we have received, and in parallel with the continued proceedings of the university judicial process, the National Council will make a final decision soon about the future of this chapter on Lehigh’s campus.” 
 
 The Lehigh committee called the scavenger hunt “reprehensible” and “morally questionable.” The acts outlined in the scavenger hunt may not have been required to belong to the sorority, but they “are clearly considered a rite of passage and a consistent part of membership in AXO,” the committee said. 
 
 “This event did not only take place this year, but there is credible information that this event has been going on for years,” the committee said. “The panel is deeply concerned about the escalated nature of the content of this year’s list, and we are unconvinced that this escalation wouldn’t continue.” 
 
 “This type of behavior is simply unacceptable considering the current climate on college campuses,” the committee added. 
 
 Alpha Chi Omega may appeal the decision. 
 
 eopilo@mcall.com 
 
 Twitter @emilyopilo 
 
 610-820-6522 ||||| Lehigh University has kicked a sorority off its campus after it organized a scavenger hunt a university disciplinary panel called 'a significant and reprehensible event.' 
 
 Alpha Chi Omega's Theta Chi chapter has lost its Lehigh campus recognition for two years, starting March 5 of this year until May 31, 2020. 
 
 The sorority, which can appeal the finding, must vacate its sorority house once the disciplinary process resolves. 
 
 The sorority held a scavenger hunt (road rally) on Dec. 8, which "involved the use of drugs and alcohol, sexual activity, and other activities that violate Lehigh University policy," according to the university's Lehigh Greeks blogs. 
 
 The chapter was placed on interim university suspension on Dec. 12 and its national headquarters also directed it to "cease and desist all activities," according to the posting. 
 
 Lehigh's Title IX Coordinator Karen Salvemini launched an investigation that culminated in a March 5 disciplinary hearing where the sorority was found responsible of hazing and related offenses. 
 
 Alpha Chi Omega cooperated with the investigation, turning over the scavenger hunt list and documented examples of member's completed tasks, according to Lehigh. But the disciplinary panel found the sorority had violated many university rules. 
 
 While members may have willingly joined in the hunt, that does not stop it from being considered hazing under Lehigh's Code of Conduct, the university found. 
 
 "AXO created a situation that occurred on and off campus involving morally questionable quests such as a scavenger hunt, treasure hunts, etc.," the university writes on the blog. "The acts described may not have been required for affiliation into the organization, but are clearly considered a rite of passage and a consistent part of membership in AXO." 
 
 By the time the sorority can resume operations at Lehigh, all of the current members, who are aware of the tradition, will have graduated, which was intentional, the university notes. 
 
 "This incident was a significant, reprehensible event that the entire chapter was aware of and leadership endorsed. This event did not only take place this year, but there is credible information that this event has been going on for years," the university found. "The panel is deeply concerned about the escalated nature of the content of this year's list and we are unconvinced that this escalation wouldn't continue." 
 
 The university found that the sorority's current track record did not lead the panel to have confidence in the chapter's ability to act in a manner that shows care and concern for the health and safety of its members. 
 
 "This type of behavior is simply unacceptable considering the current climate on college campuses," the university found. 
 
 The sorority can apply to the university's Dean of Student Offices in 2020 to start the recognition process again. 
 
 The national organization conducted its own on-campus investigation in December that resulted in probationary terms for the chapter and individual punishments. 
 
 Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. ||||| Starting in 1996, Alexa Internet has been donating their crawl data to the Internet Archive. Flowing in every day, these data are added to the Wayback Machine after an embargo period.
– A "reprehensible" sorority scavenger hunt that "involved the use of drugs and alcohol, sexual activity, and other activities that violate Lehigh University policy" counts as hazing even if participants took part willingly, the university has decided. The Alpha Chi Omega has lost its status and been booted off the Pennsylvania campus until May 2020 at the earliest after being found responsible for hazing and other offenses, reports the Morning Call. In a blog post, the university says the dubious acts involved in December's "Road Rally" scavenger hunt may not have been "required for affiliation into the organization, but are clearly considered a rite of passage and a consistent part of membership." Alpha Chi Omega will be ordered to vacate its sorority house and the university says that by the time the sorority can resume operations on campus, all the current members will have graduated, breaking a link with the tradition, Lehigh Valley Live reports. "This incident was a significant, reprehensible event that the entire chapter was aware of and leadership endorsed," says the university blog post, which accuses sorority leadership of creating "a situation that occurred on and off campus involving morally questionable quests." Alpha Chi Omega, which cooperated with the investigation by turning over scavenger hunt lists, will be allowed to appeal the decision.