National leaders in the Greek community have urged the University of Maryland, College Park to revoke a sweeping prohibition on social events at fraternities and sororities by the end of the week. They argue that the university’s recent crackdown on over 35 Greek organizations for hazing was overly broad.
At the start of this week, only one fraternity was being investigated for hazing, yet all Greek organizations faced disciplinary actions, as confirmed by Judson Horras, the president of the North American Interfraternity Conference.
The University of Maryland officials, including James McShay, assistant vice president and interim director of fraternity and sorority life, and James Bond, director of student conduct, imposed a “social moratorium” on the organizations. This included the suspension of new member programs and a directive for current members to refrain from contact with new or potential members, particularly in situations involving alcohol on or off-campus.
UMD’s fraternities and sororities were gearing up for “rush” activities this month, a crucial recruitment period for new members.
In a related incident, the Inter-Fraternity Council at the University of Virginia announced a three-week suspension of recruitment activities following a hazing-related injury to a student. The university supported this decision, according to reports from The Washington Post.
The university officials at UMD expressed concerns about the safety of the University community due to the activities of several chapters. However, national Greek organization leaders criticized UMD’s actions, claiming that the response was unwarranted.
Jesse S. Lyons, a spokesperson for Kappa Alpha Order, opposed the collective punishment of compliant organizations, emphasizing the importance of fair treatment.
While past practices involved complete shutdowns of Greek life activities, Horras noted that such actions were counterproductive. Punishing all organizations equally could discourage reporting and upset those who abide by the rules.
University officials refrained from addressing specific hazing allegations or responses from national Greek leaders. However, allegations of hazing against Zeta Beta Tau were debunked, with Horras highlighting the fraternity’s unjust treatment following the incident.
The decision to halt new member and alcohol-related activities was based on a thorough assessment of reported incidents and behaviors that posed risks to the community’s safety and well-being, as stated by university officials.
The sudden suspension of activities left fraternity members like Jackson Hochhauser of Theta Chi and Spencer Doyle of Phi Kappa Tau feeling unjustly penalized without due process.
U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey acknowledged the university’s efforts to prioritize student well-being, while reflecting on the potential benefits of pausing fraternity and sorority activities.
The history of Greek life at UMD dates back to 1913, with a significant portion of undergraduates currently involved in fraternities or sororities.
Over the years, UMD’s Greek organizations have faced public scrutiny, including instances like the controversial email from Delta Gamma in 2013 and the viral podcast by former sorority member Lucy Taylor in 2020.
Despite the varied experiences within Greek life on campus, the recent actions taken by UMD have stirred debate and raised concerns among students and national Greek leaders.