University of Maryland Sued Over Investigation of Fraternities

The University of Maryland continues to investigate five of its fraternities this week over hazing allegations despite a lawsuit students filed that accuses administrators of violating their constitutional rights.

The university made a concession last week by lifting some restrictions on the fraternities and sororities about the same time they sued in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt.?

Initial reports of misconduct prompted the university to prohibit the Greek life organizations from socializing with new recruits in a disciplinary measure imposed on them March 1.

“The assessment revealed areas of ongoing concern within chapters that we believe necessitate additional university actions, including establishing new reporting mechanisms for hazing,” the school said in a statement.

The statement added that university administrators were planning new policies “to build a culture of integrity and accountability.”

Part of their concern appears to be centered on potential abuse of alcohol offered to “pledges,” or new recruits, to the fraternities and sororities. At other universities, alcohol poisoning was blamed for deaths or brain damage during hazing.

Administrators hired a consulting firm to interview students suspected of misconduct.

The lawsuit says the interviewers pressured students to turn over their emails, text messages and calendars but did not explain why they wanted them. The university said it did not know of any such pressure by the interviewers.

The consultants’ interviews were part of the reason four fraternities and three Joe Doe students sued, claiming violations of the Fourteenth and First Amendment. They said the university’s restrictions and investigation violated their freedom of association, due process and privacy.

“To have their rights restored, the University is requiring that students submit to a mandatory interrogation by attorneys retained by the University under threat of discipline for refusal to comply,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit also accuses the university of violating its own code of conduct by not informing students they interviewed of the exact nature of the investigation.

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