Coronavirus cases spike to more than 75% positivity at several IU fraternities

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — More coronavirus spikes were reported at Greek housing at Indiana University.

Three houses had positivity rates of more than 75% this week and are among dozens that remain in quarantine.

A university spokesman said of the 40 fraternity and sorority houses in Bloomington, 33 were in quarantine Friday afternoon, though one came off quarantine Friday evening.

While the Monroe County Health Department has the authority to shut them down, officials have chosen not to do so.

Acacia fraternity has the highest positivity rate of all Greek houses this week with a rate of 80% this week, up from 11% last week.

The spike in Greek life not gone unnoticed among other students, including Marisa Patel-O’Connor and Luke Villarreal.

“I try to stay away from any people in Greek life, so I can be as safe as possible,” Patel-O’Connor said.

“Overall, I feel pretty safe, it’s just making right decisions in terms of where to go and where not to go,” Villarreal added.

Patel-O’Connor said she feels safe on campus where everyone wears masks indoors. But with everything else, especially any large gatherings, she’s extra careful.

“It’s nerve-racking because I know I wouldn’t want to get it because if I get it — I live in an on-campus apartment — I would probably be kicked off campus and I would give it to my mom who is immunocompromised,” she said.

Fraternities and sororities are independently owned and operated, which means IU doesn’t have the ability to shut them down. That’s up to the Monroe County Health Department.

Administrator Peggy Caudill declined to be interviewed Friday but released a short statement via email: “The Monroe County Health Department continues to work closely with Indiana University staff and the Greek Houses to work through this difficult challenge. We appreciate all of the students and staff who are taking this situation seriously and cooperating with the directives. We will get through this by working together.”

Indiana University recommended last week that each Greek house re-evaluate its living situation to keep people safe.

“The health department has to speak for what they want to do. We’re recommended that they re-evaluate,” said Chuck Carney, IU director of media relations. “We do believe they (fraternities and sororities) can do these things correctly and do the things that will help them mitigate that positivity rate.”

Two other frats spiked this week.

Phi Sigma Kappa went from 2% positivity last week to 77% this week. As we arrived Friday, someone who appeared to be a member left their golf clubs sitting in the parking lot as it appeared they may have been going out to the driving range.

A few doors down Frat Row, at Theta Chi, where the rate spiked from 4% to 76%, two cars with apparent members got out and walked inside.

While both fraternities are in quarantine, we were not able to determine if either action would be a violation because the Monroe County Health Department did not return our messages.

Randy Shoup, Acacia House Corp. board president, spoke with News 8 over the phone Friday night.

He said of the 57 members living at the fraternity currently, 50 are “post-positive.” He said the other seven have remained negative throughout.

He said the fraternity was “exactly where we want to be” because members are ahead of the curve and Shoup believes they will have immunity through the fall semester.

IU has tested about 10,000 students and staff this week at Franklin Hall.

Students living in dorms have a positivity rate of 3.64%. Students living off-campus have a rate of 4.66%.

Meanwhile, those in Greek housing have at rate of 24.56% this week, which is three times higher than the 8% it was last week.

Students hope county health officials will step in if the high numbers continue.

“Considering how high the rates are, if it continues to go up, then yes,” Villarreal said.

“If they shut them down and send them home, I don’t think that’s probably the best option, but maybe the health department can enforce stricter regulations,” Patel-O’Connor said.

Since Aug. 22, there have been 1,226 positive cases on the Bloomington campus.

News 8 also reached out to two additional fraternities, but neither house’s leadership had responded by Friday night.