UPDATE: Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) fraternities at the University of Virginia will now have until 6 p.m. Sunday to initiate new members, Dean of Students Allen Groves announced today. The one-day extension, decided after consultation with student leaders, will provide the necessary amount of time for several fraternities to successfully complete new member orientation, Groves said.

On Thursday, University officials requested that all University fraternities initiate new members by Saturday.  The request – which is not in response to allegations of criminal misconduct – is designed to ensure student safety and is in accordance with best practices governing the length of time for new member orientation.

Presently, one fraternity is under investigation after recent reports of inappropriate behavior, and additional investigations will be initiated in coming days. To preserve the integrity of those investigations, the University is not identifying the fraternities or the activities in question.

The IFC governs 31 fraternities at the University of Virginia.

Should the fraternities choose not to agree to the University’s request to initiate new members by the deadline, the University will reevaluate renewal of the Fraternal Organization Agreement with such member groups, which permits fraternities to use University resources and participate in University-sponsored activities.

The original release is below.
 

APRIL 4, 2013

The University of Virginia has requested that all University fraternities initiate new members by 6 p.m. Saturday.

The request is designed to ensure student safety and is in accordance with best practices governing the length of time for new member orientation, Dean of Students Allen Groves said in letters to incoming members of Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) fraternities, their national organizations and local alumni advisers.

Saturday marks the conclusion of nine weeks of new member pledging, which Groves wrote is a sufficient span of time for new members to learn the history, tradition and values of their organizations.

The University’s request to initiate all new members by April 6 is not in response to allegations of criminal misconduct.

Presently, one fraternity is under investigation after recent reports of inappropriate behavior, and additional investigations will be initiated in coming days. To preserve the integrity of those investigations, the University is not identifying the fraternities or the activities in question.

The IFC governs 31 fraternities at the University of Virginia.

At the beginning of the 2013 spring semester, University administration addressed fraternity leadership regarding the need to avoid inappropriate behavior at fraternity recruitment events. In February, Groves and President Teresa A. Sullivan addressed all IFC chapter presidents to reinforce the University’s no-tolerance position on hazing. Groves also sent a more recent notice to IFC fraternity leaders requesting that member fraternities avoid practices that threaten student safety.

Groves has committed to meet with undergraduate chapter and IFC student leaders, national or international headquarters staff and involved alumni next fall to discuss ways in which the new member process may be made more constructive.  The objective will be to have many ideas come forward from the student leaders themselves.

Should the fraternities choose not to agree to the University’s request to initiate new members by Saturday, the University will reevaluate renewal of the Fraternal Organization Agreement with such member groups, which permits fraternities to use University resources and participate in University-sponsored activities.

Letter to New IFC Members

Letter to Fraternity Alumni and HQ Staff