U of A expands hazing prevention after fraternity loses recognition | Local News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – The University of Arizona announced Wednesday its expanding hazing prevention efforts as Sigma Alpha Mu becomes the university’s first fraternity to lose recognition since February of 2024.

Chrissy Lieberman, the U of A’s dean of students, said the school incorporated hazing prevention into online training for Greek life last year and will now make that training available for leaders of all student clubs.

“I think that expansion is going to help everyone understand better what responsible leadership looks like in an organization and that team building can be done without levels of harm,” Lieberman told News 4 Tucson.

The university said other changes include making mandatory hazing education for new Greek life members occur earlier on. The school will also hire a full-time staff member for prevention and education on matters including hazing, alcohol and drug use.

With immediate loss of recognition, Sigma Alpha Mu cannot participate in University of Arizona-sponsored events nor can the organization use university facilities. The decision letter said some members are expected to face charges related to hazing and felony charges related to drugs and assault.

The Dean of Students office said several pieces of information went into its decision, including “21 individual clips of different hazing incidents involving new members.” The office said the fraternity acknowledged that “at least one active member was prohibited from interacting with new members” after an incident with new members and lots of alcohol.

Additionally, the university says per the University of Arizona Police Department, a chapter leader was found with cocaine during a search of the fraternity house. The university said it’s more likely than not the fraternity violated several rules, including policies around drugs, alcohol and hazing.

Lieberman told News 4 Tucson that the fraternity house is owned by the organization. 

“There is an opportunity for the national organization to still use that facility for those men, but it would no longer be a university facility, like it wouldn’t be affiliated with us,” she said. “So that means it would not be under UAPD’s jurisdiction. It means that they can not have the Greek letters up. It just becomes a housing facility owned by headquarter.”

News 4 Tucson learned from the organization’s executive director Andy Huston that the University of Arizona chapter remains suspended by the international fraternity.

Huston wrote in part, “We take matters involving the safety and conduct of our members with the utmost seriousness. Sigma Alpha Mu International Headquarters paused its internal review to avoid interfering with an active law enforcement investigation, and we fully support efforts to hold individual bad actors accountable.”

News 4 Tucson spoke to an incoming University of Arizona junior in a separate fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau. That organization is on probation through 2027. 

Josh Rott, the social chair for Zeta Beta Tau, said putting students in danger is never acceptable. He also believes fraternities can be judged too quickly.

“From the people I know and talk to and my fraternities, other fraternities, that’s not something they really stand for – putting people in harm’s way. I don’t even know how it gets to that point,” Rott said.

Rott told News 4 Tucson many Greek organizations focus on building character and giving back through philanthropy. The University of Arizona reported that during the last academic year Greek life chapters raised more than $260,000 for charitable causes.

Following several investigations into misconduct this spring, Lieberman said Greek life leaders on campus know they will be “under the microscope for a while.”

“They can see how this will potentially impact their recruitment,” she said. “They are willing to do the work because they know that a positive Greek experience is worth the effort they’re going to have to put in.” 

Sigma Alpha Mu has lost recognition through May of 2031. The organization has 10 business days to submit a written appeal. That deadline falls on Aug. 12.