UCF’s Delta Upsilon fraternity was found in violation of five different hazing violations and alcohol-related misconduct, and placed on an organization disciplinary suspension on Nov. 25, according to documents from the Office of Student Conduct.
On Aug. 14, a call was made to UCF’s anti-hazing hotline by a Delta Upsilon fraternity pledge’s mother to report that her son, along with five other pledges, were forced to complete certain activities — like drinking a handle of liquor — and video themselves doing it as proof of completion, according to an incident report.
The mother, who stated in the report that both she and her son wish to remain anonymous, said the only member of the fraternity present at the time was the individual known as a “pledgemaster.”
The videos were sent to the pledgemaster, and the mother said in the incident report she would be willing to send the videos to the hazing hotline email account to assist with the investigation.
According to the Office of Student Conduct documents, the fraternity was found in violation of:
- Alcohol Related Misconduct – Failure of a registered student organization to take all necessary steps to see that no person under the legal drinking age possesses alcoholic beverages at functions it sponsors or within any property or transportation it owns, operates, and/or rents.
- Hazing – Any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health and/or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or association with, any organization. Hazing may result in felony charges.
- Hazing – Brutality of a physical nature such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements; forced consumption of any food, liquor, liquid, drug, or other substances; or other forced elements; or other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental or physical health or safety of the individual.
- Hazing – Any activity that could subject the individual to mental or physical stress such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced contact which could result in embarrassment, or any other activity that could adversely affect the mental or physical health or dignity of the individual.
- Hazing – Forcing or requiring the violation of University policies, federal, state, or local law.
- Hazing -Any activity, as described above, upon which the initiation or admission into or association with a registered student organization may be directly or indirectly conditioned, shall be presumed to be a “forced” activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such an activity notwithstanding.
UCF spokesman Mark Schlueb said in a Friday email that the safety and wellbeing of students is the university’s top priority.
“Student organizations that endanger their members and violate the university’s code of conduct must be held accountable. Hazing in any form is unacceptable,” Schlueb said in the email. “We are thankful to the chapter members and others who had the courage to speak up so the university could investigate.”
All executive members of Delta Upsilon are to schedule a one-on-one meeting with the Office of Student Conduct staff to discuss the outcome of the hearing and plan forward, according to documents. The fraternity is required to complete this sanction by May 1, 2020.
“UCF plans to bring chapter leaders together to discuss new ways to reinforce their commitment to Greek values,” Schlueb said in the statement. “University leaders also are planning more frequent training to develop and strengthen up-and-coming chapter leaders who will step in when experienced chapter presidents and board members graduate.”
The organizational disciplinary suspension, resulting in the fraternity losing its university recognition and registration, is for the fall and spring 2020 academic terms, according to the Office of Student Conduct documents.
While under organizational suspension, the chapter is prohibited from hosting or participating in any on or off-campus events, philanthropic activities, intramurals, socials, or mixers, according to the sanctions letter. The fraternity is only permitted to conduct routine business meetings designed to work toward the completion of the sanctions.
Following the disciplinary suspension, the fraternity will continue on an organizational deferred disciplinary suspension for the summer 2020 and fall 2020 academic terms, according to documents.
The deferred disciplinary suspension is designed to give the fraternity a chance to demonstrate its ability to abide by the community’s expectations of behavior articulated in the Organizational Rules of Conduct, according to the sanctions letter.
During its organizational deferred suspension, Delta Upsilon will officially be suspended, but the university will allow the organization to operate with sanction-specific restrictions, the sanction letter states.
This story is developing and will be updated with new information. Check back with Knight News for updates.
