More than 40 University of Central Florida fraternities and sororities today received permission to resume new member education, initiation and recruitment activities, as well as approved social events.
UCF informed the chapters following a week of presentations in which chapter leaders addressed topics such as what steps they will take to prevent hazing and underage drinking, what alcohol education programming they will offer to their members and how members will be held accountable within their organizations and the Greek community.
Clay Coleman, UCF’s director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, praised fraternity and sorority members for their hard work and their commitment to changing the Greek community’s culture when it comes to alcohol misuse and hazing.
“Moving forward, we remain focused on the prevention of alcohol misuse and hazing,” he wrote in reinstatement letters to the chapters. “It is important that all of our chapters continue to engage their new and active members in effective educational programs related to the dangers associated with alcohol misuse and hazing. We also will ensure that all of our organizations’ new members are informed of their rights prior to and during the new member process.
The university reinstated 41 chapters, including 16 that are required to provide follow-up information to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life about areas of improvement identified in their plans.
At their request, two chapters were given more time to further develop their plans for reinstatement. Three chapters were not eligible to seek reinstatement because of active student conduct cases. One chapter is a developing colony, not yet eligible for the reinstatement process.
UCF halted social, new member and initiation activities Feb. 21 in response to concerns that the university’s Greek community needed a culture change when it comes to the misuse of alcohol as well as hazing. During the halt, fraternities and sororities continued to hold alcohol-free philanthropic events as well as business meetings and some special events, such as mother-daughter weekends.
About 3,100 students are members of the 47 fraternities and sororities at UCF.