All fraternities suspended at university amid wave of misconduct reports

TUCSON, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — The University of Arizona has hit pause on all fraternity activities amid a wave of misconduct investigations.

In an internal university memo, Chrissy Lieberman, the dean of students, said her office is investigating multiple reports of misconduct involving nearly half of the 21 fraternities on campus.

The violations range from physical assault, hazing and drug and alcohol violations to creating unsafe environments for students, according to Lieberman.

Effective immediately, all fraternity chapters have been placed on an interim activities suspension until all chapter advisors have met with the dean.

Six fraternities — Zeta Beta Tau, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, Theta Xi and Phi Gamma Delta — were suspended immediately.

Swallowing live goldfish, hazing, blackout allegations

Several chapters were deemed responsible for code of conduct violations this spring and remain on disciplinary status, according to the Dean of Students Office.

According to officials, chapters are on active suspension, while others have been banned from working with their new member classes, with severe cases under criminal investigation.

Last month, Sigma Tau Gamma was placed on activities suspension after being accused of forcing members to drink large amounts of alcohol and swallowing live goldfish.

In April, six fraternities were under investigation by the school. Three of them, Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Chi and Phi Delta Theta, faced serious allegations.

The allegations against Sigma Alpha Mu include burns from hot liquids, forced alcohol consumption, alcohol poisoning, blackouts and hospitalizations.

Sigma Chi allegedly hosted a party that was alcohol-free, but alcohol was consumed, drugs were knowingly and unknowingly given to members, and multiple people were hospitalized.

Phi Delta Theta was placed on suspension for hazing, where members were allegedly subjected to forced alcohol consumption, degradation, humiliation and other threatening and endangering behaviors.

Another fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, was placed on probation until May 31, 2027, and must pay a fine of nearly $4,000. The accusations against the fraternity included sleep deprivation, forced alcohol consumption, kidnapping and forced calisthenics. Members were also accused of illegal drug use.

The last time the university cut ties with a fraternity was in 2024, when Pi Kappa Phi was found guilty of hazing and violating the school’s code of conduct.

Mandatory meetings with chapter advisers

An activities suspension prohibits the fraternities from hosting, attending, sponsoring and participating in any organizational activities. Only business meetings are allowed during the suspension.

Once a chapter adviser has attended one of the three mandatory meetings, chapters that were in good standing will resume activities as normal.

Chapters with upcoming events must ensure that their adviser attends a mandatory meeting. The chapter must return to good standing before any event can be hosted.

Adviser meetings are said to continue quarterly, and advisers must be in attendance at each meeting. If an adviser doesn’t attend, the chapter will be removed from good standing, and its continuation could be jeopardized.

University president met with fraternities

University President Suresh Garimella met with all fraternity presidents on Aug. 27, where he said that the university would not “tolerate further violations that put our students in harm’s way.”

University leadership told fraternity leadership to “step up and be accountable for the men in their chapters” and stop behaviors that violated the school’s code of conduct.

“It was made clear that if the chapters did not meet this expectation, the university would be forced to act,” Lieberman wrote in the memo, dated Monday.

Cases at capacity

Lieberman said that reports are continuing to pour in about concerns within the fraternities, including from parents, students and the community.

The Dean of Students Office is at capacity for the number of cases its staff can investigate at one time, and every case involved a fraternity chapter, according to Lieberman.

“As you know, the value of the Greek experience is under scrutiny nationwide. It is time for the University of Arizona Greek community to step up and set an example for good. It is time to have difficult conversations with each other and the members of the community,” a portion of the memo stated.

The Dean of Students Office noted it would investigate the allegations alongside the University of Arizona Police Department.