University police issued an arrest warrant Thursday charging a Pi Kappa Alpha member with battery.

Mark Thomas Harris, a sophomore from Marietta, is charged in the alleged battery of Kevin Sanchez, said University Police Chief Chuck Horton.

University police turned over the arrest warrant to the Athens-Clarke County Sheriff’s Office Thursday afternoon, Horton said.

As of press time, the arrest warrant had not been served.

Sanchez told The Red & Black that while walking south on Lumpkin Street at 2:30 a.m. Jan. 18, a man struck him for speaking Spanish to his friend.

“He kept saying, ‘Just speak English; just speak English,’ ” Sanchez said.

The Interfraternity Council (IFC) placed Pi Kappa Alpha on social suspension Tuesday.

Under the suspension, the fraternity is not allowed to host any social functions or parties.

Michael Greene, IFC vice president of public affairs, said Wednesday his organization felt it was necessary to take a stance on the issue while the University’s investigation was ongoing.

The suspension will be re-evaluated when the fraternity’s involvement in the case is made clear, according to IFC members.

Greene could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Sanchez said he thinks the suspension may have prompted Pi Kappa Alpha members to give more information to police than they previously had.

“I’m disappointed it took (the fraternity) so long to ‘fess up,’ ” he said. “It took them almost two weeks to come up with a name when they knew it all along.

He said he hopes University officials will reprimand the fraternity “however they find appropriate.”

Associate Dean of Greek Life Claudia Shamp said she could not comment on the arrest warrant until she had received official information about the case.

Pi Kappa Alpha President Jonathan Stickler said he had no comment about the arrest warrant, but said his fraternity is continuing to cooperate with University administration and the Greek Life office.

“We do not condone these acts and will take necessary action when we receive official documentation (from police),” he said.