After a two-year ban from campus, the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity is back at UF.
The fraternity’s UF chapter was banned after members reportedly urinated, spit and poured beer on a group of disabled veterans from a balcony before stealing their American flags during a formal at Panama City Beach in April 2015, CNN reported at the time.
UF spokesperson Janine Sikes said the university spoke to the fraternity’s national headquarters, and both parties agreed in Spring 2015 to close the chapter. The earliest ZBT could come back to campus was Spring 2017.
The fraternity took responsibility for some of the accusations, Sikes said, but others remain alleged because no evidence was found.
“They’re completely clear,” she said.
Sikes said the fraternity had to recruit all new members after the Spring 2015 incident to reopen its chapter. But they can now recruit on campus, organize events and act as any other fraternity.
The chapter does not have a house on campus, said UF spokesperson John Hines.
“We’re excited to have ZBT back on campus,” Sikes said. “They’re a large frat nationally. We expect good things out of ZBT.”
Laurence Bolotin, the national fraternity’s executive director, said in an emailed statement that the fraternity is pleased the suspension was lifted.
“We are thrilled that ZBT will be returning to the home of the Gator Nation and we look forward to partnering with the University to help create a chapter that all will be proud of,” wrote ZBT International President Norman M. Waas in the statement from Bolotin.
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