Excerpt from the Diamondback
The university recently suspended two multicultural fraternities — Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Beta Rho — for allegedly hazing their members, and Greek life officials are now ramping up efforts to educate the community on the ramifications of such incidents.
The Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life suspended Kappa Alpha Psi indefinitely on Feb. 12, pending the results of a joint investigation with the Office of Student Conduct. In addition, this university’s chapter of Sigma Beta Rho was closed by its national organization Jan. 20 and is banned from the university for four years or until the last active member graduates, DFSL Director Matt Supple said.
Seven University of Maryland sorority sisters were charged with assaulting and hazing a pledge during initiation, police said.
The student alleged she was assaulted by current or former members of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority off campus at least three times in October, charging documents stated.
The alleged assaults included pushing her into a wall and repeatedly striking her with an oak paddle, the documents stated. The student’s arms and chest were severely bruised, College Park police said.
Most of the charged sorority sisters, whose ages range from 22 to 26, were to appear in court Thursday, The Washington Post reported.
The university indefinitely suspended the sorority in November for “failure to comply with ‘membership intake’ guidelines,” Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life Director Matt Supple said in a statement.
