After a disciplinary hearing in December, UF’s chapter of Tau Epsilon Phi was suspended for about four years.
A decision from the then-interim Dean of Students Heather White suspended the fraternity from Dec. 7, 2017, until Dec. 17, 2021, finding them in violation of five student conduct codes. Violations include serving alcohol to minors, causing over $3,000 in damages to a hotel while on a weekend trip in September and drug possession.
The alcohol was given at an unregistered event, which resulted in multiple intoxicated people being transported to a hospital, according to a disciplinary letter.
TEP president Matthew LaTorre declined to comment.
In the letter, White said the chapter took responsibility for the code violations.
Tim Smith, the international consul for the national Tau Epsilon Phi, wrote in an email that the Grand Council of Tau Epsilon Phi suspended UF’s chapter indefinitely on Dec. 15., meaning the national fraternity would have to work with the university to decide when and if the chapter would return.
White wrote that part of the reason for the current suspension was due to previous deferred suspensions.
In 2008, the Dean of Students Office placed TEP under interim suspension after a group of Gainesville Police officers entered the fraternity house to find 36 pledges kneeling shirtless on the floor of the basement.
If the fraternity follows certain criteria, like completing a membership review and vacating their house, they have the chance to reduce the length of suspension.
Read the full letter here:
