University of Maryland shuts down new member activities for Greek organizations after incidents that threatened safety
The University of Maryland, College Park has suspended new member social activities and barred communication between new and existing members of campus Greek organizations as officials investigate conduct that they say “threatened” the safety of university community members.
In a letter sent Friday to members of the university’s interfraternity and Panhellenic organizations, the Office of Student Conduct and the Department of Fraternity & Sorority Life informed members that an immediate social moratorium for new membership activities was being put in place on an indefinite basis. That bars Greek organizations from hosting events, on or off campus, with alcohol present.
Current members of the organizations were ordered to have no contact with new or prospective members, according to the letter. Specifically, the letter bans current members from contacting new members in person, by phone, by mail or on social media.
According to the letter, which was first reported by The Diamondback, the university’s student newspaper, multiple chapters within the school’s Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council were conducting activities that “threatened the safety and well-being of members of the university community.”
The letter indicates that an emergency meeting was held Thursday of the school’s Fraternity & Sorority Life Councils to warn members that further “misconduct” could result in a “cease and desist” order for activities.
“Despite that warning, additional incidents regarding fraternity and sorority organizations were reported today,” the letter states.
Those activities were not specified, but the letter told members they may want to review the school’s student code of conduct and hazing policy. The letter was signed by James McShay, assistant vice president and interim director of fraternity and sorority life, and James Bond, director of student conduct.
“We will be launching an investigation into this matter,” the two wrote. “Any attempts to coordinate responses, deceive investigators, or provide false information to University officials will be pursued for the appropriate disciplinary action.”
According to The Diamondback, fraternity and sorority recruitment ended about one month ago. Many chapters have been holding new member initiation events.
