U. of Florida Investigating Alleged Damages at Sorority Event
 

The October 24 online issue of the Tampa Tribune reports that the U. of Florida is investigating a restaurant's allegations (made in a complaint to the university) that sorority members and their dates caused damages at an event a couple of weeks ago:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/oct...t-uf-sorority/

Here's hoping that at least some of the allegations are overblown. However, the kinds of alleged behavior described in the paper's report have certainly made news at other schools over the past few years / semesters.

A sad day for Zeta. I do wonder where the advisors where??

We have quite a few UF Zetas on GC. I hope that maybe they can help to explain what happened at the restaurant. Then again, they may not be able to.

I remeber being in Tampa for Convention a few years ago and we were all told to STAY AWAY from Ybor City. Hmmmm

For what it's worth, in addition to the Tampa paper's coverage, the student paper has a news story:
http://www.alligator.org/articles/20...fairs/zeta.txt

Brief excerpts:
The chapter is currently interviewing every member of the chapter as part of an investigation that could take several weeks . . . .

Orlando [identified as a university spokesman] said the sorority's national office also apologized to the restaurant, offered to pay for the damage costs and told the UF chapter it is prohibited from any activities involving alcohol until further notice.


The student paper also has an editorial :
http://www.alligator.org/articles/20...ion/editorials

Wow! what a harsh but true reality.

Wow.

The Tampa paper has somewhat updated article:

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBKQ7WQ68F.html

Excerpt:

In a written statement, the sorority's national president said the UF chapter is prohibited from holding social events that include alcohol while her staff investigates the complaint. "These actions do not represent the high ideals of our 109-year-old sisterhood," Zeta Tau Alpha National President Laura Ladewig Mauro said.

Ybor itself has a few seedy parts that can be dangerous at night, which is probably why you were told to avoid it. However, The Columbia is an absolute institution here in Tampa - it's the place you take out-of-towners to impress them, and the place you go for graduations and big celebrations. Our med school sometimes holds post-graduation dinners there. I've never really seen people in the general public get upset about damages done to a restaurant, but The Columbia is important to a lot of Tampa residents.

i don't know any uf gators currently on gc, and even if there were, i don't know that they would share any information.

i am glad that the sorority is holding an investigation and that nationals is involved. it is too bad when something like this happens, to any chapter of any sorority or fraternity.

advisors are not required to attend social functions-most of us are in bed by the time the socials begin!!

SECdomination, thanks for your comments!

I've been well aware for some time of The Alligator's reputation (deserved or not) for being "anti-Greek," etc., which is why I've mentioned articles in the Tampa paper, and why I prefaced a mention of the Alligator's coverage with the phrase "for what it's worth."

Yes, the kind of behavior described in the articles -- I think of it as "you-can't-let-'em-out-in-public") -- isn't confined to FL. UGA comes to mind, and there've been similar incidents reported far away from the SEC. Princeton, Penn, Washington-St.Louis, come to mind, and a little farther back in time, but well within memory, Northwestern.

One issue, I think, is the extent of pregaming or prepartying and the lack of realization about the likely effects of loading up in advance on too many shots or drinks.

Finally, congratulations on the ZTA philanthropic fundraising. I applaud and respect what they do on national and local levels in that regard.

Can you believe some of these people?
 

:mad:Was anyone else disgusted by some of the comments made about "buying friends" and "rich spoiled sluts"??? I'm not even a Zeta and I never went to UF (I'm a Penn State alum) but, I'm upset for them! I got it that they screwed up-okay! But, is it really worth calling them names? That could have just as easily been my sorority (or anyone else's for that matter) because apparently the area is very Anti-Greek...Then you have adults saying things like, "These are the leaders of tomorrow?" Come on-they screwed up and maybe it's really being blown out of proportion but, to sit there and automatically assume that a.) they are a bunch of spoiled sluts, b.) they have no pride in themselves or their organization, c.) they are the ONLY group to have ever made a scene at a bar, club, etc. and d.) because they are sorority girls they are "paying for friends" is absolutely ridiculous!!! As a sorority alumna-that upsets me...Good Luck to the ZTAs at UF because after this with nasty people doing nothing but complaining and pointing fingers-the sisters are gonna' have a hard time fixing their reputation with the University President....Oh-and for those Non-Greeks that hate hate Greeks-We should congratulate ZTA for raising great amounts for their Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Philanthropies throughout the nation!

The UF ZTAs are an excellent chapter. Top chapter on campus, good grades, raise a lot of money for our philanthropy and are highly-respected. I just can't fathom that it was the women who caused all this damage. In fact, even The Alligator said that most of the damage was caused the girls' dates. I'm certainly not condoning the actions of the UF ZTAs but the article is extremely biased and definitely reeks of disdain for the Greek community.

These types of things happen on date functions, unfortunately. You bring a bunch of drunk guys from different fraternities together in one room and...well...things happen. I think many of us have seen this happen during one of our date functions although maybe not to this extent but I can certainly see how it could have progressed into what it did.

I don't mean to hijack this thread by defending The Alligator, but this comment is 100% incorrect.

You may not like what is printed, but The Alligator has been a model of journalistic integrity longer than you've been alive. Most of the reporters are JM majors & have their own budding professional reputations at stake.

I guess someone from that particular area does not know everything compared to those who are more current with this written journal.:rolleyes:

I hope you get salmonella.

The Alligator can be useful, but it's not exactly the New York Times...

They often publish stories weeks after the events occur. They also recycle stories from issue to issue... among other things.

Typical inane post by you.

You throwing threats, grow up and be some body.:rolleyes:

I don't know much about Zeta at UF, from what I have read they seem like they are good girls from a good chapter. However the reality of the issue is they brought dates that disrespected property, these boys were invited by Zeta sisters to a Zeta function and ultimatly it reflects upon the girls and there choice in dates.

It seems like the sorority is taking the proper steps to rectify the issue and hopefully the girls will learn from this or atleast make there dates feel real bad for what they did.

Can you tell us which parts of the editorial you believe are false or unfair?

It seemed like the harsh truth to me.
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Washington Medical Marijuana

Yes, I learned the hard way that you are responsible for the behavior of your guests. But I hope that the guys face some consequences too. If I were the lawyer for Zeta headquarters, which paid for the damage, I'd be sending some carefully worded letters to the actual perpetrators, suggesting that it would be in their best interests to reimburse Zeta for the damage they caused as guests.
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Roll Blunts

That kind of stuff happens all the time? In public establishments that are hosting your event? That's pretty shocking to me. If that's the case, why are any hotels/restaurants/any place that values its property & reputation welcoming your organizations? Don't you all have some pride? And a sense of what's right and what's wrong?

I know of at least one other situation like this; in fact worse.
My own chapter, long after I was gone and while already on double-secret probation, wreaked a private house on the coast while on retreat.

Just one of the reasons the chapter/charter is gone.:mad::(:mad:

I wasn't attacking anyone's organization specifically, it just sounded like some folks here knew well the UF greek system and I thought they were saying that this stuff happens all the time at UF.

An article in a regional newspaper describes the sanctions that have been imposed by Zeta Tau Alpha HQ:

http://www.theledger.com/article/200...711180420/1004

Looks like these are the main ones:

*all social events will be alcohol-free "until further notice"

* chapter social events have to be inside the Gainsville city limits for the rest of the school year

* chapter members have to "complete an online alcohol-abuse prevention course"

*the chapter has to go through a "risk-management education program"

Aren't all official NPC sorority social events supposed to be without alcohol????

As I understood the NPC policy - and I have a feeling I do not really know it - the *no alcohol* policy applied to events where the NPC chapter might be a host. But if there was a third party vendor, then it could be acceptable (i.e. formals, mixers etc.) depending on the particular NPC organization's policies. As such, I took the sanctions to mean that the chapter could not participate in any event - even with a third party vendor - where alcohol might be present.

If the event had been sponsored by the University's Panhellenic Association, then per NPC procedures, the event is alcohol free. However, in this siutation, it actually depends on the individual group's Risk Management policies. For Tri Sigma, as long as we follow our social event policies (3rd party vendor, licensed bartender, security, etc.), chapters are allowed to have alcohol at social events.

Zetas are the best sorority at UF, super hot. Unfortunately most guys I've met from UF are classless and wouldn't think twice about engaging in this kind of behavior.

Rebecca, ZTA is the same way it sounds like as Tri-Sigma. Alcohol is ok from third party vendors - hence why we have to have a cash bar at formals and not an open bar/keg/etc.