Three UF fraternities were intermittently suspended and one sorority was disciplined for COVID-19-related violations.
Phi Delta Theta and Theta Chi have been placed on an interim suspension for Fall due to violations of UF’s student behavioral expectations for students in response to COVID-19, according to the UF Interfraternity Council dashboard.
An interim suspension temporarily restricts a student organization until an investigation and hearing of its violations are completed, according to university regulations.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon is also on interim suspension, wrote UF spokesperson Steve Orlando in a text message. Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s status has not been updated on the dashboard as of Sunday night.
Delta Gamma, a sorority, has been placed on a “limited activity directive” for Fall. The order bans the sorority from hosting in-person events, meetings and new member orientations.
This is due to the sorority hosting a big-little reveal with a large crowd without masks being worn or social distancing in place, according to a sorority dashboard from the UF Dean of Students’ Office.
Delta Gamma’s event was also not approved by the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Affairs, according to the website.
Sorority members were notably open about the event, held at the Delta Gamma house, with Instagram posts showing members posing for pictures in groups and without masks.
The behavioral expectations, first published on Aug. 10, require students and student organizations to wear masks and socially distance. It also regulates UF’s policy on gatherings, which demands that organizations comply with COVID-19 rules when gathering — whether on or off campus.
The punishments were first referenced by Provost Joseph Glover in a Faculty Senate town hall Tuesday.
Glover said UF suspended a number of students and organizations due to COVID-19 violations and will continue to do so. The amount and nature of the student suspensions are currently unknown.
These are not the first violations for some of the groups within the last year.
Phi Delta Theta was placed on probation last Fall through the Fall 2020 semester. This was due due to an unregistered off-campus event that provided alcohol to underage members and damaged an off-campus location.
It also received educational sanctions, which can require the completion of a seminar, assignment, substance or psychological evaluation, restitution or community service, according to the Dean of Students’ Office.
In addition, the fraternity was subjected to a loss of UF privileges. The Student Conduct Code’s definition of the loss of privileges includes limits on athletic event attendance, study abroad, parking privileges and leadership positions in student organizations.
Delta Gamma was placed on a conduct review last Fall through the Spring 2020 semester. This was due to attending an unregistered fraternity event that provided alcohol to underage members. It also received educational sanctions, according to the Dean of Students’ Office.
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house at UF.
