The University of Central Florida’s Sigma Chi fraternity participated in an administrative hearing before an officer acting on behalf of the student conduct board for accusations of violating multiple student conduct policies Wednesday afternoon.
“The administrative hearing officer recommended that Sigma Chi be found in violation of the charges of hazing and disruptive conduct and recommended a finding of not in violation for the alcohol-related misconduct charge,” Chad Binette, Assistant Vice President of UCF News & Information, said.
The recommended sanctions for the fraternity include suspension through summer 2017 and completion of a return plan prior to resuming activity at the university, according to Binette.
UCF cannot sanction Sigma Chi without first receiving a written rationale from the student conduct board finding the fraternity in violation of UCF rules. Binette said that due to the length of the hearing, the hearing officer did not complete the written rationale form immediately after the hearing and instead will complete the rationale Thursday morning.
After the rationale is finished, Binette said the “recommendations are reviewed by the director of the Office of Student Conduct, who will issue the final decision.”
Moving forward, UCF can either accept the recommended sanctions, lessen or increase them, or remand the case for a rehearing. UCF cannot overturn the conduct board’s decision that Sigma Chi was “not in violation” of alcohol misconduct. UCF would have to remand the case for a new hearing in order to punish Sigma Chi on that specific charge.
Sigma Chi could appeal the decision once it’s enacted.
Check back on KnightNews.com for updates on this case.
