University of Maryland halts fraternity, sorority events amid hazing concerns

August 06, 2024

The University of Maryland has ordered fraternities and sororities to stop holding social activities where alcohol is served after allegations of harmful misconduct, a move taken amid renewed concerns about hazing during pledge events and other parties.

In a letter to Greek organization presidents Friday, officials with the university’s Division of Student Affairs said multiple chapters have been accused of misconduct that has “threatened the safety and well-being of members of the University community.”

The university indefinitely suspended “new member” activities and placed a moratorium on all events held on or off campus where alcohol is served pending an investigation into the allegations.

“This directive means that every current member of the organization must not contact any new member or prospective new member via in-person, telephone, postal mail, any electronic means (including social media), or third-party communication,” according to the letter, whose contents were first reported Friday evening by the Diamondback student newspaper.

A university spokesperson said Saturday that the order affects 21 fraternities and 16 sororities on the school’s College Park campus, all of which are members of the Inter-fraternity Council (IFC) or the Panhellenic Association (PHA). The university’s 13 multicultural Greek organizations and its five historically Black fraternities and sororities were not included in the order.

Hazing during Greek pledge events has been a perpetual worry after some students died of alcohol poisoning and other injuries.

This week, the University of Virginia’s Inter-Fraternity Council voted to temporarily suspend recruitment activities at all 30 of the school’s fraternities amid allegations that a student there was injured by hazing.

In that Feb. 21 incident, the student fell backward down a long flight of stairs in the fraternity chapter house where he was pledging and was knocked unconscious, according to a parent of another student who witnessed the scene and spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.

A University of Virginia spokesperson declined to comment on the incident beyond a statement that anyone involved in a confirmed hazing incident would be subject to prosecution and university disciplinary action, with the chapter subject to further suspension or termination.

At the University of Maryland, the affected organizations were warned Thursday about the possibility of disciplinary action during an emergency meeting about earlier allegations of misconduct.

Then more alleged incidents were reported Friday.

“Therefore, effective immediately, all IFC and PHA new member program activities are suspended indefinitely, pending the results of a thorough investigation,” the letter said, advising the recipients to review the university’s code of student conduct and hazing policy.

“Once the investigation is complete, a decision will be made regarding the status of the IFC and PHA organizations and appropriate next steps,” the letter said.

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