The meetings leading up to the decision to suspend all Greek Life at the University of Central Florida were held away from the public view–leaving UCF to make important decisions that affect thousands of students in secrecy.
“It is an unfortunate day when the actions of a misguided administration disrupt the productivity and happiness of a vast multitude of positive organizations and the individuals that represent them,” one student posted on an event Facebook site.
Sources tell KnightNews.com that fraternity and sorority presidents were called Tuesday night in order to inform them of a mandatory GLC meeting Wednesday at 3 p.m. We are told that the meeting was actually to discuss the decision to suspend Greek Life activities in order to address alcohol and hazing issues. We are also told that the meeting was held by UCF Vice President Maribeth Ehasz, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Belinda Boston and Associate Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Services, Dr. Kerry Welch.
“We want to be ahead of the curve on this,” Ehasz told the Orlando Sentinel. “We don’t want to wait for a catastrophe to occur. We want our Greek system to be as strong as I know it can be.”
Ehasz tells the Sentinel they could not say how long groups will be suspended. But she is hopeful that at least some will be allowed to resume their activities by the end of the spring semester. According to the paper, Ehasz said the change was prompted by a recent string of hazing investigations. Just this month, the university has suspended two of its fraternities — Sigma Chi and Alpha Epsilon Pi — amid allegations of hazing and alcohol-related misconduct.
To date, however, no records or information have been provided to the public by UCF that tell of any meetings where the decision to suspend Greek Life at UCF may have been discussed. While there is currently no certain idea as to who issued the notion to halt Greek Life, it is clear that the entire decision making process was done out of the public eye.
UCF says that they expect to approve alcohol-free philanthropy events — such as an organization holding a walk to raise money for a local charity or cause. Other events, specifically those that involve alcohol, are likely not to be approved at this point.
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