COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A group of students and fraternities are looking to file a temporary restraining order against top University of Maryland administrators for their decision to suspend all Greek life activity.
According to a release from Fraternity Forward Coalition, the temporary order would bar the University of Maryland from implementing restrictions on ordinary social and philanthropic activity outlined in a letter addressed to all “Interfraternity and Panhellenic Association Member Organizations.”
“We have never seen such an egregious abuse of power in higher education administration. Administrators began with their preferred outcome – that fraternities and sororities must be cut down to size. So, they launched a dragnet operation that infringes students’ civil liberties and subverts the school’s own administrative procedures,” Fraternity Forward Coalition spokesman Wynn Smiley said. “This new ‘guilt by association’ standard affects not only the one in seven University of Maryland students who are in fraternities and sororities, but it also creates a chilling effect throughout the student body that administrators can, on a whim, violate their rights to freedom of association and due process and then coerce them into participating in a meritless interrogation rife with innuendo and speculation.”
The petition names the following administrators as defendants: 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.
Plaintiffs are Alpha Psi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity, Beta Kappa Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order, Epsilon Delta Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, Epsilon Gamma Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and anonymous students designated as "John Does."
“Instead of teaching and promoting the First Amendment, the University of Maryland hoped it could intimidate students and prevent them from understanding that their constitutionally protected rights are being violated. They were mistaken,” Smiley said. “If the University of Maryland is willing to take such unwarranted and drastic action against thousands of fraternity and sorority students, it is naïve to assume all other students would not be subject to similar tactics. Therefore, we are prepared to pursue any and all legal remedies and restorative actions that allow Greek organizations to resume normal activities on campus and hold to account those who unlawfully violated students’ civil liberties.”
Sara Gavin, a spokesperson for the University of Maryland, said they were unaware of the court filing.
"We have seen no court filing on this, so we won't have a comment," Gavin said.
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