UMD Greek life sanctions
 

https://dbknews.com/2024/03/02/umd-c...st-greek-life/

UMD places cease and desist order on all social fraternities, sororities

Akshaj Gaur


The University of Maryland placed a cease and desist order Friday on all social fraternities and sororities after it received notice of chapters conducting activities that posed threats to community members’ “safety and well-being.”

The cease and desist order impacts all Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association chapters at this university, according to a letter obtained by The Diamondback. James Bond, this university’s student conduct director, and James McShay, this university’s assistant vice president of engagement, sent the letter to new members of IFC and PHA organizations.

The letter said all new member activities for the organizations will be suspended indefinitely. This university’s student conduct office plans to conduct “a thorough investigation” into the matter, the letter said.

In a separate letter sent Friday to IFC and PHA chapter leadership, Bond and McShay said all fraternity and sorority life councils at this university received a warning during an emergency meeting Thursday that “further allegations of misconduct” could result in a cease and desist. Additional misconduct incidents were reported Friday, the letter to leadership said.

IFC and PHA chapters are prohibited from communicating with new members, both letters said, and violating the terms of the order will result in “disciplinary action.”


The indefinite suspension affects at least 20 fraternities comprising the IFC and 16 sororities that are part of the PHA, according to this university’s fraternity and sorority life department website. IFC and PHA leadership did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This university also placed a social moratorium on all IFC and PHA chapters, according to both letters, which prohibits an organization from holding an event where alcohol is present.

The cease and desist comes about one month after fraternity and sorority recruitment ended and as many chapters are holding new member initiation events.

Bond and McShay urged IFC and PHA members to review the university’s hazing and student conduct policy in both letters.

“Our goal is to have students honestly and openly share their experiences with our office so that we can uphold the mission, values, and expectations of the University community,” the letter to new members read. “Any attempts to deceive University officials, falsify information, or retaliate against individuals who share information will be subject to disciplinary action.”

This university and its fraternity and sorority life department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Diamondback.

Senior staff writer Marijke Friedman contributed to this story.

And so all the chapters that play by the rules will comply, and all the chapters that don't (who were the reason for this in the first place) will keep doing things under the table and get away with it. Yawn. Next.

The only "cease and desists" that work are those enacted by peers.

I never got why schools do this. Of course if an organization does something (hazing, etc.) then yes of course put sanctions and consequences on said house. But what about the countless others that do the right thing and have spotless records when it comes to RMF and such?

I hate the idea of punishing everyone universally. I think they said there are 16 sororities and 20 fraternities? Surely all aren’t breaking the rules!

Giving everyone the axe across the board while they get everything sorted out seems incredibly drastic IMO. I wonder if we (the public) will get to see the results of the investigation and what chapters are indeed at fault.

Not much of an update from the school, but some of the fraternities have spoken out about the situation.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/l...sions/3559578/

Isn't there a first amendment issue here with a public university telling students they do not have the right to assemble?

This isn't a new or novel approach to multiple organizations in violation of hazing or risk management policies. Happened at Bloomsburg (and ended in the Greeks' ultimate demise), Virginia Tech, etc.

This makes having members of one GLO report that a different GLO is hazing a *bad* idea from the standpoint of keeping their own chapter going. Does the administration really want that to happen?

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4OfRJqJ4wb/

NPC has released a statement regarding the complete greek life suspension.

NPC Statement Regarding Recent Actions by the University of Maryland

The National Panhellenic Conference is disappointed with the University of Maryland’s action. Safety and well-being are our top priorities as we strive to create safer campus climates for sorority women. When we met with university officials earlier this week in an effort to partner, we asked for improved communication and increased transparency and clarity regarding the broad allegations the university is asserting and the timeline of its investigation. They had no response and provided no answers. After nearly a full week, the University of Maryland has not informed any NPC sorority that they are the subject of specific and credible allegations of wrongdoing. The university continues to deny our members their First Amendment rights without due process and plans to continue to do so indefinitely.

To that end, we are evaluating our path forward. We are in close communication with our inter/national organizations with chapters at the University of Maryland to support current members and new members during this uncertain time.

Thank you, NPC!

Are they going after every national Greek Council? NIC, NPHC, and NPC?

I keep wondering if it’s just one or two houses that caused an injury through hazing, alcohol or both? Sometimes the response is to close EVERYBODY down, I guess as a warning. I’ve read that many other schools have done this.

This is getting crazy…it’s just not possible that every single house is in violation in some way, or has all this info to drop on the offenders and is holding out.

Shadokat: there are still Greeks at Bloomsburg, theyre just not formally recognized by the school, correct?

Just NIC and NPC groups.