On March 1, 2024, high-ranking administrators at the University of Maryland issued a terrifying order to all of the school’s fraternities and sororities:
shut down or face the consequences.
The reason? Administrators were pursuing unspecified charges against unspecified people within the Greek community.
Their edict demanded not only that all fraternities and sororities cease normal operations but also that randomly selected students must comply with their meritless inquisition or face disciplinary retribution.
One by one, these college students, who were forbidden to have an attorney present, were subject to an interrogation by an outside law firm that the University of Maryland retained to perform an investigation they framed with innuendo and speculation.
On March 14, 2024, the Fraternity Forward Coalition filed a petition for a temporary restraining order against the following administrators: Dr. Darryl J. Pines, President; Dr. Patricia A. Perillo, Vice President of Student Affairs; Dr. James McShay, Assistant Vice President for Engagement; and James Bond, Director of Student Conduct.
Why it matters
Destroys our legacy
Maryland Greek Organizations have been good faith partners with the University for years, and to ensure that our Greek values- service, scholarship, and philanthropy- make our members a credit to the University of Maryland. We have worked with the school when our members have fallen short, to ensure that bad actors are held accountable.
negates our impact
The school’s own website acknowledges this relationship, stating “We believe fraternities and sororities have the potential to be the most transformative part of the college experience. Our mission is to do everything we can to make this happen.”
betrays our trust
The school’s actions flout long standing procedures governing Greek life and represent a total breach of that trust. In choosing to violate the due process and freedom of association rights of these students on the basis of unsubstantiated claims, the school has signaled that the 1 in 7 students who participate in Greek Life at the University of Maryland will be treated as if they are a member of a criminal enterprise.
threatens our rights
This is Bureaucratic McCarthyism at its worst. The administration is now compelling students to participate in a meritless investigation, and threatening disciplinary retribution for non-compliance, despite neither these students nor their organizations being accused of any crimes or wrongdoing.
jeopardizes free speech
If it can happen to us, it can happen to you. If the University is allowed to get away with this, it will have a chilling effect on the free speech and freedom of association rights of every organization on campus. Every student who wants to be a part of the diverse array of organizations at the University of Maryland will now find themselves running the risk of being subject to an investigation and disciplinary action.