The sisters passed out rubber bands to pledges and told them to put their hair up, she said. It was time for "blow or blow." Fraternity men were on their way, Willoughby said the pledges were told, and the choice was to do a line of cocaine or give a blowjob.

"Get on your knees!" she recalled hearing a sister shout. "The boys are coming!"

Willoughby began scanning the room, searching for an escape in the dark. She wanted to call for help, but she said the sisters had taken the pledges' phones before leading them to the basement. Before she could find an exit, the lights flipped on.

"Just kidding!" the sisters said, laughing. They told the group they were lucky they didn't have to do anything worse as pledges for a top-tier sorority, Willoughby said.

Two women who were also present that night corroborated key details in Willoughby's account. Two other women affiliated with IU's chapter of the sorority described similar events happening during three separate years. All five said these events happen on Kappa Kappa Gamma's Big Little Night, an annual event when pledges find out which older member of the sorority is their "Big sister" and mentor.

The pledge class did not actually have to do drugs or perform any sexual acts that night. But Dr. Susan Lipkins, a psychologist and expert witness in hazing cases, said the alleged events are hazing because they are humiliating, degrading and used to maintain hierarchy in the sorority.

IU's chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Kappa Gamma's National Headquarters did not respond to multiple phone calls and emails requesting comment about the allegations in this story.

The Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life and the Division of Student Affairs did not respond to requests for comment.

"We can't confirm or not a specific allegation as it may be part of an ongoing investigation," IU spokesperson Chuck Carney said in an email Wednesday evening. He said he could not say whether Kappa Kappa Gamma is under investigation at this time.

"Student health and safety is of paramount importance to Indiana University. The university does not tolerate acts of hazing and takes hazing allegations very seriously," he wrote.

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The two other women who were present on Big Little Night 2020 and confirmed Willoughby's account asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation from the sorority.

Both corroborated key details of Willoughby's story — the dark basement, the lingerie, pledges' phones being confiscated, older sisters with paddles intimidating pledges and the sisters telling them they would have to either perform oral sex on fraternity men or do a line of cocaine.

"My brother is in Pi Kappa Phi and he's bringing some friends over, they're waiting for you," one of the women recalled a sister telling pledges as they were lined up to go into the basement.

Another sister told pledges "blow or blow" was going to be their punishment for being "the worst pledge class ever," the woman said.

"I was fully physically, emotionally and spiritually disturbed by the entire thing," Willoughby said.

She said she left Kappa Kappa Gamma last summer because of these events, along with issues of inclusion and racism she said she experienced as one of the only Black women in the house.

"There's no real sisterhood," Willoughby said. "With all of the sexual harassment that goes on at IU's campus, I don't see why Kappa would subject another woman to that."

The Division of Student Affairs’ hazing page defines sexual harassment to include "any unwelcome conduct or behavior of a sexual nature that creates or contributes to a hostile environment."

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From fall 2016 to fall 2020, an average of seven IU greek life organizations were disciplined each year for hazing. Since 2016, three sororities and 14 fraternities have been placed on disciplinary probation for hazing — some multiple years in a row. Five more have been suspended by IU or their national chapters for hazing.

While most people think of hazing as a fraternity practice, it happens in sororities, too.

Lipkins, who characterized the events in Willoughby's account as hazing, defines hazing as a process used by groups to maintain hierarchy or discipline. Hazing events have the potential to cause physical or psychological damage to those involved, she said.

"Being misinformed that you are going to have to perform a sexual act against your will is hazing, even if [the sexual act] doesn't occur," she said.

Some people may find this type of hazing harmless, Lipkins said, while others could experience long-term psychological effects, including sleep issues, anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Women from the 2017, 2019 and 2020 pledge classes spoke to the Indiana Daily Student about variations on the tradition. The woman from the 2019 pledge class said Kappa Kappa Gamma members call it "The Screaming."

She said her 2019 class was also taken to the basement on Big Little Night. It was pitch black and they were forced to face the walls in silence with their heads lowered for about 15 minutes, she said. Drunk sisters in lingerie and high heels then made their entrance, she said, accompanied by the woman chosen to be "the screamer." There were no paddles or threats of "blow or blow" involved, she said, but pledges were verbally berated for about 15 minutes.

"You're sluts and you're going to ruin Kappa's reputation!" the screamer yelled at them, the woman said. "No frats are going to like us!"

The woman described the event as "terrifying" and said multiple women in the pledge class cried.

Lipkins said she deals with hazing cases every year in which someone dies or is otherwise physically or psychologically harmed. The cycle continues because of the strong code of silence within organizations that practice hazing, she said.

Courtesy Photo

Langdan Willoughby stands in front of the Kappa Kappa Gamma house at 1018 E. Third St. in February 2020. IU’s Delta chapter is the sorority’s oldest continuously active chapter.

"If you're lucky enough to walk away and think it's funny, good for you," she said. "That doesn't mean what you did to someone else or what was done to you was not hazing."

Willoughby said she broke her silence to help other young women who are considering rushing and may be unaware of the hazing that can happen in sororities. All of the women who spoke to the IDS said their pledge classes were intimidated by Kappa Kappa Gamma to maintain silence about these events.

"I've grown past the fear that they tried to instill," Willoughby said of Kappa Kappa Gamma. "I think information should be free."

If you or someone you know has been hazed, reach out. Contact the IDS at investigations@idsnews.com.

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You can report hazing incidents to IU here. A list of resources is available here if you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment or abuse.

TOP PHOTO Kappa Kappa Gamma is located on East Third Street. The sorority has been on IU's campus since 1872.

Abbie Gressley | IDS