A sorority and six students filed a lawsuit in federal court Thursday alleging that the University of Maryland violated their First Amendment rights during an investigation into hazing.
The university in a March 1 directive ordered all fraternities and sororities to suspend social activities while the school probed activity that “threatened” the safety of the school community.
The lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland alleges that during its investigation the school required sorority members to submit to mandatory interrogations by attorneys retained by the university under the threat of discipline.
“During the interrogations, some students’ cell phones were improperly searched by investigators who threatened individual disciplinary charges against any interviewees who refused to turn over their cell phones,” the lawsuit says. “During the interrogations, students were not permitted to be accompanied, in-person, by their own attorneys.”
