A fraternity and two sororities have been banned from the University of Connecticut for up to three years following a finding that they were guilty of hazing and other violations of the university’s student code.
The Sigma Chi fraternity and Delta Gamma and Delta Zeta sororities will lose their recognition by the college and be banned from on-campus housing for three, two and one years, respectively.
“UConn takes a zero-tolerance approach to hazing and harmful treatment of students by anyone, under any circumstances,” the university announced. “Our mission is to provide a first-rate learning environment, and we take this duty very seriously.”
The Greek organizations were suspended in April. Officials took the action against Sigma Chi and Delta Gamma following allegations that, in February, among other things, members paddled fellow students, made them strip, covered them with syrup and flour and force them to eat cat food.
Delta Zeta lost its campus standing for one year following reports that it made fraternity members eat dog treats and drink shots off each other’s bodies.
The university identified the violations of the student code as “hazing; behavior that endangers others and themselves; and serving, distributing or providing alcohol to someone under 21, and/or who is visibly intoxicated, and/or who is being pressured to drink.”
The three organizations had a total of about 450 members at the end of the spring semester, the university said.