Members of the Interfraternity Council General Assembly voted to reinstate the Texas chapter of  Kappa Alpha on Oct. 22, granting KA a seat in the council after a roughly three-year absence.

The chapter was suspended from the university several years ago following allegations that it hazed new members and hired performers for live sex shows, according to nbcdfw.

Kappa Alpha President Thomas Rhea, a psychology senior, declined to comment on what caused the split from the national organization in 2011. “The Omicron Chapter is moving forward and wishes not to comment on this matter, at this time,” Rhea said. 

IFC President Edwin Qian, a management information systems senior, said before the vote was put to the general assembly, the IFC Executive Board heard a petition from a representative of the fraternity. “They had to first reaffiliate with the national organization,” Qian said. “Letters of endorsement were required. The local chapter also took a vote and showed local interest in joining the IFC.” 

The assembly voted 22-1-1 to approve Kappa Alpha as a member of the council. 

While the process to reaffiliate with the university’s IFC began with the start of the fall semester, Rhea said chapter members began the national reaffiliation process during the spring of 2014. “Texas Omicron petitioned KA for admission,” Rhea said. “Next, three separate voting bodies at KA voted on the petition...these bodies voted...in favor of readmitting our chapter into KA.” 

Rhea said he believes the readmission both to the national organization and IFC will be a positive change for the chapter and the Greek community at UT. “[Kappa Alpha] is one of the oldest fraternities at UT -- founded weeks after UT opened its doors,” Rhea said. “Returning to KA allows this history to be reunited as well as giving the chapter a permanent identity for the future.” 

With the addition of Kappa Alpha the IFC has 27 fraternities and more than 2,600 members.