Florida State University has indefinitely suspended its fraternities and sororities after the alcohol-related death of a freshman pledge and cocaine charges for a member of another fraternity.
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State University indefinitely suspended its fraternities and sororities Monday after the suspected alcohol-related death of a freshman pledge and cocaine charges for another fraternity member.
University President John Thrasher didn’t say how long the suspension will last.
“This pause is needed to review and reflect on the loss of a young life and to implement serious changes,” Thrasher said. “For this suspension to end, there will need to be a new normal for Greek life on campus. They must participate in that culture.”
Florida State is at least the third university this year to suspend all Greek life. It joins Penn State and Louisiana State, where fraternity members face hazing charges after alcohol-fueled deaths at those schools.
At Florida State, Andrew Coffey, a pledge at Pi Kappa Phi, died Friday after he was found unresponsive following a party. Police said there were indicators that alcohol may have been a factor, but authorities were waiting for the results of an autopsy before determining a cause of death.
On Monday, 20-year-old Garrett John Marcy, a member of Phi Delta Theta, was charged with the sale and trafficking of cocaine.
During the suspension, chapters will not be allowed to hold organized events. The only events they can conduct are meetings with the university or with their national chapter. They also can not have any organized participation in homecoming activities, which are scheduled for next week.
Students will be allowed to remain as residents in their fraternity or sorority house.
Thrasher also banned alcohol at all student organization events during the suspension.
In Orlando, the University of Central Florida shut down most fraternity and sorority activities in February 2013 as it investigated two organizations for alleged hazing and alcohol abuse, the first time the school had taken such action.
UCF halted social events, initiation activities and new member education programs but allowed groups to have business meetings and approved alcohol-free events. The university lifted the suspension for most Greek organizations about six weeks later.
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