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Tau Epsilon Phi at the University of Florida has been suspended after alleged drug and alcohol-related incidents.
According to reports, Heather White, the university’s interim dean of students, sent the university’s chapter of Tau Epsilon Phi a three-page-letter recommending a four-year suspension from December 2017 until December 17, 2021.
The university accused the fraternity violating five student conduct codes, including drug possession, serving alcohol to minors. One of these alcohol-related incidents caused several people to be sent to the hospital. Furthermore, Tau Epsilon Phi caused $3,000 in damages to a hotel in New Orleans.
via NewsChief:
All residents of the chapter have until Jan. 31 to vacate the fraternity house. The chapter has 147 active members currently enrolled at UF.
According to the letter, which was sent to the Miami Herald by John Hines, UF’s coordinator of media affairs, the school made the decision to suspend the fraternity for several reasons. Among them: The chapter had previously been placed on deferred suspension twice due to violation of the student conduct code, including a 2008 violation when campus police found 36 pledges kneeling shirtless on the floor of the fraternity’s basement.
In addition, many fraternity members, including chapter leadership, were involved in the previous behaviors that violated University of Florida policies.
During the suspension, Tau Epsilon Phi will not be recognized as an active part of the University of Florida and therefore are barred from participating in any school functions.
This is the latest fraternity suspension in the last year, as schools such as Indiana University, the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Texas State, Florida State, Ball State, Louisiana State and Penn State have all suspended fraternities.
