UNM Fraternity & Sorority Life warns of unrecognized campus fraternities

In a July 30 Instagram post, UNM Fraternity & Sorority Life discouraged students against joining Kappa Sigma and Sigma Chi “for their own safety to ensure a university-sanctioned experience,” due to the organizations not being held to the same standards of safety and honesty.

In a statement to the Daily Lobo, UNM Director of Communications Steve Carr wrote that the fraternities Kappa Sigma and Sigma Chi are not officially recognized by the University due to voluntarily withdrawing from the Interfraternity Council in 2022 and violating the University of New Mexico’s Anti-Hazing Policy and student code of conduct, respectively. 

“Recognized organizations have established expectations related to advising, education, risk management, and organizational conduct,” Carr wrote. “When a group operates without recognition, the University has less ability to verify its practices, provide oversight, or address concerns through those normal organizational processes.”

Carr wrote that there can be confusion among students who may not realize the difference between the relationship that unrecognized and recognized Greek life has with the University. 

“A student may pay dues and become a member of an unrecognized fraternity, but that organization cannot participate in University and council programs, events, leadership opportunities, and other activities available to recognized chapters,” Carr wrote. 

Sigma Chi has claimed they are still active despite having university recognition revoked for two years following violations of UNM’s Anti-Hazing Policy during an incident in September 2025. The group was on probationary status when the incident occurred, according to Carr. 

The incident involved the Sigma Chi chapter collaborating with the Women’s Resource Center and the Arcoíris Center to host a “stay sober” event before the University of New Mexico football game, according to UNM’s Hazing Transparency Report.

Incoming members wore high-visibility vests and were assigned tasks such as distributing alcohol and clean-up while current members, and others, wrote and drew statements that were sexually explicit and “gender-insensitive,” according to the report. 

Following the revocation, Carr wrote, the Sigma Chi chapter notified UNM that it will operate independently of the university, which didn’t change the disciplinary action and the group still remains unrecognized by the university. 

“(Sigma Chi’s UNM chapter) does not have the privileges associated with a chartered student organization and will not have the opportunity to become recognized again until it complies with the University issued sanctions,” Carr wrote. 

The Daily Lobo reached out to the UNM Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life via email and Instagram direct messaging, but did not hear back in time for publication. 

Paloma Chapa is the news and multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88

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