The University of Miami suspended a fraternity after a video went viral showing members chugging milk and spitting it into a trash can on students. However, the school insists that this action does not violate the school’s hazing policy.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon was punished for violating the school’s conduct policy and will remain suspended for the remainder of the spring semester, which ends May 15.
“While the investigation did not reveal any violations of the university’s hazing policy, it did uncover other conduct violations,” the school said. miami herald In a statement.
“As a result of the investigation, the chapter accepted responsibility for violating the university’s disorderly conduct and alcohol policy.”
The fraternity will be allowed to resume hosting and participating in events in August of next fall semester under probation.
The video, published by the university’s newspaper in late February, shows the student crouched in a gray trash bin while three other people around him begin chugging what appears to be several gallons of milk. It was a video.
The three men then allegedly spit liquid on the student, who was shirtless and hiding in a trash can, leaving a nasty white trail on his back.
“That’s terrible,” said the person filming the video.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity has been on the University of Miami campus since 2002.
Although the university’s investigation determined that the frat was not a hazing ritual, David W. Bianchi, a Miami-based attorney with more than 40 years of experience litigating hazing, thinks otherwise.
“Unless it was a hazing incident, I can’t imagine anyone would allow someone to voluntarily go into a trash can and vomit or spit on other pledgers,” Bianchi told the outlet. Told.
“If we want to stop inappropriate fraternity activities in the future, we need consequences.”
Florida law defines hazing as “reckless endangering the mental or physical health or safety of students” seeking “admission to any organization,” “affiliation with any organization,” or “traditions or ceremonies” associated with Florida State. or intentionally endangering the person. organization.
If a Florida student is found guilty of hazing, he or she could be punished by the school and charged with either a first-degree misdemeanor or a third-degree felony.
The University of Miami lists hazing as “acts or conditions caused on or off campus that recklessly or intentionally harm, damage, or endanger the mental or physical health or safety of a student,” according to its report. Masu. Website.
Students found to have violated the school’s hazing policy may be subject to suspension or expulsion.
Although the fraternity and its members were not charged with hazing in this instance, the incident involving the university itself is one of the reasons Florida has strict hazing laws.
The state passed the anti-fogging law in 2005 after Chad Meredith, one of the school’s students, died while drunk trying to swim across the lake four years ago, according to news reports. NBC South Florida.
A civil jury ordered the fraternity Kappa Sigma to pay Meredith’s parents $12 million, but no criminal charges were filed.
