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The University of Maryland halted social activities for its sororities and fraternities Friday amid an investigation into dangerous recruiting.
Officials announced the suspension in a cease-and-desist letter to all chapters of the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association, which represent 21 fraternities and 16 sororities, respectively.
The letter did not specifically mention hazing, but claimed that Greek Life groups engaged in “activities that threatened the safety and well-being of members of the University community.”
The alleged misconduct was not described in the letter.
The suspension will be in effect indefinitely while the university investigates several reports regarding dangerous activities during the chapter’s ongoing new member initiation events.
The IFC and PHA chapters are prohibited from communicating with new members and violation of the terms of the order will result in “disciplinary action.”
They will also be prohibited from organizing events where alcohol is present.
The University of Maryland reserves the right to intervene in fraternity and sorority activities if incidents of hazing are reported, even if they occurred off campus, according to the school.
Greek Life is a major player on the University of Maryland’s social scene: About 16 percent of the school’s 40,000 students belong to a fraternity or sorority. depending on the school.
The move comes days after the University of Miami launched its own investigation into fraternity hazing.
In a viral video, three men were seen drinking liters of milk to the point of vomitingwhich they were asked to do to another shirtless boy who was hiding in a trash can.
Days earlier, the University of Virginia suspended its Kappa Sigma chapter following allegations that a man who had been drinking heavily fell down a flight of stairs and hit his head, leading to his hospitalization .
The university’s Interfraternity Council also imposed a three-week suspension on all of its chapters “as a sign of commitment to anti-hazing efforts and out of respect for the current situation.”
With post wires
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