Fraternities at the University of Michigan are suspended from hosting social events after a vote by the U-M Interfraternity Council Thursday.
The student-led governing body of most fraternities on U-M’s Ann Arbor campus made the decision in the wake of claims of sexual misconduct and hazing at Greek events this semester.
University spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald called the council’s Thursday vote a “bold decision.” He said sororities on campus are already prohibited from hosting events by their national governing organizations.
The Interfraternity council (IFC) reportedly made the decision on its own, not under any pressure from the university.
In a statement, IFC Executive Vice President Alec Mayhan said, “We believe that social events are a privilege, and we, as a community, have not earned this privilege at this time. We will immediately begin the process of assessing our policies and practices and developing a formal plan going forward.”
Fitzgerald said the university is actively investigating the claims of sexual misconduct and hazing, as well as previous “sexually suggestive” themed parties that may have violated university rules.
There are also concerns about an increased number of student hospitalizations. The Michigan Daily reports that at least 30 students were transported to the hospital during the weekend of a football game against Michigan State University.
Just Monday, Florida State University suspended all activities for fraternities and sororities after a pledge died, and a fraternity member was arrested on drug charges in an unrelated incident. And in Pennsylvania, District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller will hold a press conference Monday to announce new details about the investigation into hazing incident at Penn State University, where a 19-year-old student died after a party at a now-disbanded fraternity in February.
