UF's chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority has been suspended from social privileges while its national office investigates a social the group held at a Tampa restuarant.
The manager of the Columbia Restaurant wrote an e-mail to UF President Bernie Machen complaining about the behavior of the sorority, known as Zeta, during its Oct. 11 date function.
The e-mail stated that members of the group started fights, vomited in various parts of the restaurant, stole liquor from the bar and damaged a toilet, baby-changing table and door handle.
"This type of behavior does not reflect the ideal and standards of our 109-year-old sisterhood," a news release from the sorority stated.
The national office of Zeta is expected to complete its investigation in about three weeks, the release said.
The office will examine whether the chapter broke any of the sorority's rules.
If so, the chapter will face disciplinary actions.
The report will also determine how Zeta can prevent future behavioral problems.
At a news conference Thursday night, Robin Sullivan, president of Florida's Zeta chapters, said the national office would probably not reimburse the restaurant for any damage costs.
Zeta has never been in this kind of trouble before, Sullivan said. She didn't publicize the conference, she said. Instead, she announced it to anyone who asked for a comment.
Only one reporter attended.
About 250 people attended the date function, which included about two-thirds of Zeta's members and their dates, according to the release.
"The group turned our 102-year-old, fine-dining restaurant into a frat house," wrote Caroline O'Connor, manager of the restaurant's sales and catering, in her e-mail to Machen.
UF's Office of Sorority and Fraternity Affairs has not imposed punishments on the chapter, said Steve Orlando, UF spokesman.
Many of Zeta's members were unavailable to comment because they were at a sorority philanthropy event, Zeta Linedance. The line dance took place at the same time as the conference.
More than 100 members attended the line dance, but only Sullivan and Kay Galm, Zeta's chapter adviser, attended the press conference.
