The University of Arizona has put its fraternity chapters on a form of suspension that severely limits their activities, citing reports of misconduct that the university said had persisted despite warnings.
In a letter dated Monday to the university’s fraternities and sororities, Chrissy Lieberman, the dean of students, said she was putting the university’s 21 interfraternity council chapters on “interim activities suspension” as reports of misconduct continued.
Several chapters that were found responsible for code of conduct violations last spring remain on disciplinary status or are currently under investigation, Ms. Lieberman said. Those chapters are on “activities suspension,” she said.
“The alleged behaviors range from physical assault, drugs and alcohol, hazing and creating unsafe environments for our students,” Ms. Lieberman wrote. “Some cases are also under criminal investigation.”
During the suspension, the fraternities are prohibited from hosting, attending, participating in or sponsoring any organizational activities, the letter said. Club business meetings are allowed during the suspension.
The fraternity suspensions at the University of Arizona were announced less than three weeks after a former student at Cornell University sued that institution, seven men, a fraternity and her sorority, claiming she was sexually assaulted at a fraternity party in October 2024. The allegations have set off a wave of shock and anger across the country and renewed national conversations over sexual assault on college campuses.
The letter that was sent this week to the University of Arizona’s fraternity and sorority chapters didn’t provide details about the code violations, and Nick Prevenas, a university spokesman, did not immediately respond to questions about the allegations. The letter noted that the “value of the Greek experience is under scrutiny nationwide.”
Last month, the university placed the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity chapter on activities suspension, citing reports of hazing during the fall 2025 semester. “Specifically, new members were forced to consume large quantities of alcohol and live goldfish,” Jasmin Hazel Hayes, the university’s senior coordinator for student rights and responsibilities, wrote in a letter to the chapter’s president dated Sept. 2.
Despite warnings that university leaders wouldn’t tolerate further code of conduct violations that harmed students, reports continued to come in from parents, students and others, Ms. Lieberman’s letter said.
“Seven weeks into the fall semester, the Dean of Students Office is already investigating multiple reports of misconduct involving nearly half of our 21 Interfraternity Council chapters,” the letter said.
The number of cases exceeds the number that the office of the dean’s office can investigate at once, the letter said, adding that the office would work with the university police on an investigation.
“The number of cases under investigation and the severity of the concerns is egregious,” the letter said.
The chapters will remain on interim activities suspension until all chapter advisers have met with Ms. Lieberman.
The university’s president, Suresh Garimella, met with chapter presidents on Aug. 27, when he made it clear that the behaviors reported last semester were unacceptable, according to the letter.
“At this meeting, university leadership told chapter leaders to step up and be accountable for the men in their chapters, work with their headquarters to review their members and stop behaviors they know violate the code of conduct or the law,” the letter said. “Despite the president’s expectations, here we are.”
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