The University of Florida closed a fraternity Tuesday amid
allegations that its members hurled drunken insults and spat at a group
of disabled veterans at a Panama City Beach resort.
The closing of Zeta Beta Tau’s fraternity comes a week after the
school suspended the fraternity, which expelled three of its members
after finding out about their inappropriate behavior. The school
previously said it was charging the fraternity with obscene, behavior,
public intoxication, theft, causing physical or other harm and damage to
property.
The fraternity’s Florida chapter has 128 active members. The
organization was founded in New York City in 1898 as a fraternity for
Jewish students, who at the time were not allowed into other Greek
organizations. The national organization agreed to the closure.
"We are absolutely disgusted by the accusations that have been made
regarding the behavior of members of this chapter. ZBT has a long
history of serving our country, with brothers currently serving in all
ranks of the military," said ZBT Fraternity International President
Matthew J. Rubins.
The Warrior Beach group says the frat members were extremely drunk
and were urinating on flags, vomiting off of balconies and were verbally
abusive while the two groups were at the Laketown Wharf Resort last
weekend. The veterans were there for an annual retreat meant to honor
their service, while the fraternity had a social gathering.
"I continue to be saddened and disappointed by the reported
mistreatment and disrespect of our military veterans," University of
Florida President Kent Fuchs said in a statement. "Our university has
always honored, and will always honor, the service of veterans. The
reported conduct of this fraternity contradicts the values of service
and respect that are at the center of this university."
Members of Zeta Beta Tau from the University of Florida and Emory
University in Georgia were attending their spring formals at the resort.
Emory officials are investigating, but so far they found no evidence to
implicate their students.
The fraternity was already on conduct probation for a hazing incident
in the fall semester. The fraternity has hired its own independent
investigator to find out what happened.
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