University suspends fraternity activities

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ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- The University of Central Florida says it has barred most fraternity and sorority activities until the organizations get hazing and drinking under control.

Officials at Florida's largest public university said Wednesday they were concerned about a recent string of hazings, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported. The suspension means fraternities and sororities at the school in Orlando cannot hold social events, including new-member orientations and initiations.

"We want to be ahead of the curve on this," Maribeth Ehasz, vice president of student development and enrollment services, told the newspaper. "We don't want to wait for a catastrophe to occur. We want our Greek system to be as strong as I know it can be."

Two fraternities, Sigma Chi and Alpha Epsilon Pi, were suspended this month because of allegations of hazing and alcohol abuse. Another, Alpha Tau Omega, was placed on disciplinary probation in December.

Ehasz said the university plans to create a committee including faculty, administrators, students and alumni to develop a program to prevent hazing, drinking and other problems.