They say you can judge a man’s character by the company he keeps. If that’s true, the brothers and sisters of the University of Central Florida’s fraternities and sororities might want to find some new friends.
UCF’s Sigma Chi fraternity was suspended in early February after allegations of hazing and underage drinking. A photograph posted to Facebook showed three young men, at least one of whom appeared to be close to vomiting, in front of a table of alcoholic beverages. A caption read: “forcing a pledge to chug while two others puke in misery.”
Sigma Chi is the same fraternity where 18-year-old freshman Ann Hefferin was drinking on the night she died during the fall semester of 2011. The fraternity and Hefferin’s sorority, Delta Delta Delta, were both put on probation after the incident and could not hold any events with alcohol, though that probation ended before this month’s suspension.
A leaked internal document from UCF’s administration labeled Sigma Chi as “partiers” and “meatheads” and listed a number of other knocks against the fraternity since 2007.
UCF administration took a step further in mid-February and suspended all Greek life campus-wide after it was announced that six organizations were under investigation for alcohol abuse and three more for hazing.
“The University of Central Florida has halted Greek Life social, new member education and initiation activities in order to work with fraternity and sorority chapters on comprehensively addressing alcohol and hazing issues,” read a press release on the university’s website.
Internal UCF documents said Alpha Epsilon Pi chartered a bus where there was “forced consumption [of alcohol] by new members.” Alpha Tau Omega is also under investigation for hazing.
Under the suspension, fraternities and sororities cannot hold social activities, new member education activities or initiations. They can hold business meetings and continue philanthropic efforts.
“Many Greek chapters and students exhibit model behavior and set high standards for success in the classroom and as campus and community leaders,” the release said. “However, recent events have demonstrated that our Greek community needs a culture change when it comes to the use and abuse of alcohol as well as hazing.”
Greek life has been a topic of debate at USF St. Petersburg, where at least one social sorority, Delta Sigma Zeta, is currently in the “colony” stage. The process to become a full chapter can take several years and requires approval from the chancellor and others. The group has focused on charity and leadership, and members have denounced the hard-drinking and hazing stereotypes perpetuated by the Greek life organizations at UCF and other schools.
Whether USFSP will become a school with a rich Greek culture is unclear. But one thing is for sure: fraternities and sororities need to stay vigilant to prevent the kinds of incidents that give them their stereotypes.
