University of Arizona suspends fraternity activities in wake of misconduct reports

The University of Arizona suspended most fraternity activities this week due to several misconduct reports against chapters on campus.

Dean of Students Chrissy Lieberman issued a letter to the fraternity and sorority community on Monday that said almost half of the 21 Interfraternity Council chapters on campus have multiple reports of misconduct.

She said the “number of cases under investigation and the severity of the concerns is egregious,” though she did not detail the new allegations against the chapters. In the spring, several fraternity chapters on campus were suspended for code of conduct violations, with alleged behaviors ranging from physical assaults to hazing.

The Dean of Students Office is “at capacity” for the number of cases it can investigate at once with the staff it has, leading to an interim suspension of activities for all fraternity chapters until all chapter advisers meet with Lieberman in a mandatory meeting.

The suspension prohibits fraternities from hosting, attending, participating in and sponsoring organizational activities, though club business meetings are still allowed.

“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,” Lieberman wrote.

The crackdown comes as fraternities are under a microscope due to the alleged gang rape that happened at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity in 2024.

Cornell has hired outside counsel to investigate the university’s response to the alleged sexual assault, and state Attorney General Letitia James (D) is investigating whether criminal charges should be brought against the seven accused men.

It also comes after a former Northern Arizona University fraternity leader was sentenced to two months in jail due to his part in the death of a pledge during a hazing activity.