Conduct at UCF fraternity under investigation
TheUniversity of Central Florida has suspended a fraternity while it investigates accusations that the group hosted a party where a memberhad sex with someone who was too drunk to consent.
Members of the UCF chapter of the Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity also face allegations that they hazed pledges and drank while underage during the past spring, according to documents received from the university through apublic records request.
Members of the local fraternity chapter referred a request for comment to the national organization. Lambda Theta Phi executive director Jarrod Cruz wrote in an email that the fraternity also is investigating the accusations.
“We find the allegations disturbing as they stand in direct contradiction to our mission and values to promote the spirit of brotherhood, empower Latinx students, and promote Latinx culture,” hewrote.
The UCF police department is not investigating the allegations, said Courtney Gilmartin, a spokeswoman for the university. The fraternity does not have a house on campus and it’s unclear from the report where the party and hazing occurred.
Documents from the university detail several accusations reported to the university’s hazing hotline, including an “after-party” for the presentation of the fraternity’snewestmembers, where they drank and one member had sex with someone who was “severely mentally, physically incapacitated.”
Besides the incident at the party, three of the newest fraternitymemberswere hazed, according to the accusations in the report. The men had to live with each other for three to four weeks and had to complete exercises that “pushed them to physical and mental exhaustion” while reciting information about the history of the chapter and national organization, the report said.
Fraternity members are scheduled to meet with university staff for a hearing about the suspension on Monday. UCFissues interim suspensions to organizations in “unusual cases” where thewelfare of any individual or any part of the university or community is concerned, according to a letter fromthe Office of Student Conduct to the fraternity.
The fraternity is not allowedtoparticipate in fundraisers, socials, mixers, intramural competitions, receptions, service projects, chapter meetings or conference during the suspension period.