UCF suspends sorority after accusations of hazing, drinking, drug use

UCF has suspended sorority Pi Beta Phi after receiving an anonymous complaint of hazing, including members forcing others to use drugs and drink alcohol until they blacked out.

An anonymous person alerted the University of Central Florida on Nov. 16 about a post on the website greekrank.com that described a friend’s experience in Pi Beta Phi. UCF sent the sorority a letter Nov. 21 demanding it cease all activities, including business meetings, fundraisers, socials, mixers, intramural competitions and recruitment events while the university investigates the allegations. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5.

The accusations are “of utmost concern” to Pi Beta Phi, senior director of strategic initiatives Shawn Eagleburger wrote in an email to the Orlando Sentinel.

Pi Beta Phi, which identifies itself as a fraternity for women, “takes seriously any allegation of hazing or member conduct which does not align with the core values of the organization,” he wrote.

Upon learning of the accusations, the organization placed the chapter on an “investigatory” status and started working with the university.

“At this time, we do not believe the full chapter was involved in wrongdoing; however we are looking closely at the actions of individual members to ensure any misconduct is addressed,” Eagleburger wrote. “There is no place in Pi Beta Phi for hazing, the abuse of alcohol or use of illegal substances as reflected in the fraternity’s educational resources and policies.”

Pi Beta Phi was suspended the same day as UCF’s chapter of fraternity Kappa Sigma, which also was accused of hazing. A member complained to the university of established members forcing pledges to smoke marijuana, drink alcohol, act as designated drivers and stand in pitch-black hallways while others screamed at them.

The allegations against the sorority were detailed in a post with the headline “Best friend hazed in pi phi,” by someone with the username “Help” identified only as not being part of Greek life.

The person who wrote the post described their friend’s secret “initiation” into a group within Pi Beta Phi known as the “mafia.” The friend was forced to “take shots and chug and get blacked out,” according to the post.

“I’ve had to take care of her a few times because she was incoherent and throwing up for hours,” the post said. “She was never a big drinker before this.”

The friend, who had to promise not to reveal the “rituals” to others, was also pressured to take the recreational drug Molly, the post said.

“She wants to drop and report them but is too scared because they said if anyone snitches they’ll know who it was and they’ll find a way out of trouble because they’ve ‘gotten out of any investigation before’ and will deny everything. So she feels stuck,” the post said, adding “Y’all need to get this under control.”

anmartin@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5120