Two LSU fraternities brawled in Tigerland. Why was one suspended, the other given a warning? (2024)

Thrown beer bottles, an injured golden retriever and a “ducks and guns” themed exchange all escalated a feud that LSU fraternity members said spilled over intoan all-out brawl between two fraternities last fall, with dozens of members throwing punches in a parking lot.

Documents obtained by The Advocate | The Times-Picayune through a public records request lay out new details about why LSU suspended Theta Xi from campus through the end of 2025.

While three members of the fraternity received criminal citations under Louisiana’s anti-hazing laws, leading up to Theta Xi getting the boot, records about their suspension show that LSU Police and university officials were also concerned about the melee between members of Theta Xi and Kappa Alpha, whose houses are next door to each other on LSU’s campus.

Timeline of LSU's recent rocky history with Greek life

The tension between the two had reached a crescendo by late August of last year.

On the day leading up to the brawl, members of both fraternities threw rocks, beer bottles and more into one another’s backyards. Theta Xi members later reported they had padlocks and hammers thrown into their yard, and that they retaliated by throwing fruit and brownies back at Kappa Alpha.

A Theta Xi official later estimated that its fraternity house sustained more than $10,000 in damage from eggs, paint, liquor bottles, rocks, bricks, hot sauce bottles and more, missiles that shattered windows and damaged other parts of the house.

When members of the two fraternities came across one another that night in Tigerland, fighting broke out. Kappa Alpha members later told investigators that they were at a “ducks and guns” themed exchange at Mike’s in Tigerland, many dressed in overalls and hunting gear. Theta Xi members, meanwhile, said they had a tradition of “Theta Xi Thursdays” at JL’s Place in Tigerland.

Dozens of them came to blows in the parking lot, with one witness estimating about 30 fraternity members participated. Many passersby got looped into the fray as well.

One bystander who made a report to LSU about the incident said he was at JL’s when he saw members of the two fraternities fighting in the parking lot. He noticed that a friend of his — unaffiliated with either fraternity — had been caught in the crossfire and struck in the face. He waited for the fighting to settle down, and said he offered the friend a ride home when about 30 Kappa Alpha members wearing camouflage surrounded them.

He said they shoved him and his friend to the ground, beating both of them. While his injuries were not serious, his friend was in bad shape. Police showed up shortly after the fight and called EMS to take the man's friend to the hospital, he said.

When he asked a friend in Theta Xi what prompted the bad blood between the two fraternities to begin with, the Theta Xi member said people in Kappa Alpha had thrown an object at a golden retriever that belonged to one of his frat brothers. He watched a video of the dog, which he said had to be taken to a veterinary hospital.

Meanwhile, Kappa Alpha members told police that Theta Xi members were calling out to them from Tigerland and telling them to come out and fight. One Kappa Alpha member told police that he was trying to leave when he stopped to help a friend and got sucker-punched in the head.

Investigators also uncovered messages that a Theta Xi member exchanged with a Kappa Alpha member, telling him “we still have three other frats to fight.”

LSU Police could not figure out who the aggressors were, or if older members had ordered younger members to participate in the brawl. LSU’s Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability was also unable to determine who was at fault.

Representatives for Theta Xi’s national organizations did not return a message for this story.

“The National Administrative Office worked alongside the LSU Office of Student Advocacy & Accountability and the Alpha Gamma chapter to address this situation and provide education to chapter members," said Brent Buswell, the communications director for Kappa Alpha's national fraternity.

Theta Xi suspended from campus

While the brawl sent police and university officials looking into each fraternity, it wasn’t the only incident that ultimately led to Theta Xi’s suspension from campus.

As police and LSU officials interviewed fraternity members about the brawl, they found out that during Boys Bid Night for Theta Xi, the drinking may have crossed a line. Police reports said Theta Xi confined members to a bathroom while they set up for a party. One member later told investigators they were “forced to consume alcohol within a 1-2 hour time frame, resulting in several members vomiting.” While they drank, active members threw ice at them, he said.

By Sept. 8, Theta Xi’s national organization contacted members and halted all social activities. The national organization also contacted LSU later that month to report that it had heard hazing allegations, which it is required to disclose under Louisiana’s anti-hazing laws, named for former LSU fraternity member Max Gruver. Gruver died in 2017 after a night of drinking at his fraternity house.

LSU police issued misdemeanor citations to three members of Theta Xi for criminal hazing and duty to report. The East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office said the students have completed anti-hazing courses and will not be charged.

LSU’s Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability sent a letter to members of the fraternity in late September, charging them with violating the student code of conduct through coercive behavior, disorderly conduct, endangerment and hazing. The fraternity reached an “informal resolution” with LSU at the end of 2023, and agreed to the two-year suspension.

In the meantime, another fraternity is leasing the Theta Xi house.

Kappa Alpha received warning

While Kappa Alpha remains on LSU’s campus, the brawl also had consequences for it.

SAA sent the frat a letter in February saying it was responsible for violations of the Student Code of Conduct that included disorderly conduct and property misuse. The letter noted incidents in fall 2023, including a physical altercation and vandalism of another organization’s property.

The office issued an “organization warning” through the end of 2024.