ZBT initiates members after two-year suspension

Two years after its suspension from campus, UF’s chapter of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity is back with a new class of brothers.

In mid-February, 60 brothers were initiated, said Matt Redler, the president of UF’s chapter of the fraternity. They narrowed down the group from more than 800 applications and referral letters, which include men recommended to the fraternity from sororities.

“It’s really exciting to see the letters of ZBT around campus again,” Redler said. “I think we’ve been undeniably missed from the university for some time.”

The chapter was suspended from UF in April 2015 after members reportedly spat, urinated and poured beer on veterans in Panama City, CNN reported at the time. No members of the fraternity faced criminal charges, according to Alligator archives.

The earliest the chapter could return to campus was Spring 2017, and they were required to recruit all new members, according to archives.

Laurence Bolotin, the executive director of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, said staff members from ZBT were on campus since Summer recruiting new members.

“Our expectation is that this group becomes the strongest fraternity on campus as well as the strongest within ZBT,” Bolotin wrote in an email.

Redler said he was drawn to ZBT for its message and unique no-pledging system. He said in the Fall, he was formerly involved with another fraternity, which he declined to mention, but didn’t like how it handled things.

Instead of having pledges, Redler said ZBT initiates new members 72 hours after receiving an invitation to join the fraternity. He said the no-pledging system is used to ensure that members uphold the fraternity’s standards every day.

Redler said ZBT was the first fraternity to eliminate the pledge program.

“We believe that members of our organization should earn their membership every single day they call themselves a ZBT, rather than just go through a tough education process as a pledge and never have to worry about earning the membership of the organization afterward,” he said.

Redler said he’s looking forward to expanding the chapter. He said after ZBT’s suspension, he thinks they can rebuild its reputation by excelling academically and giving back to the community.

“I think just by sticking to our message we can be one of the strongest fraternities on campus in just a few years,” he said.

Contact Romy Ellenbogen at rellenbogen@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @romyellenbogen

University Police officer, Henri Belleville, 43, signs a large beach volleyball during Zeta Beta Tau's grand debut philanthropy event. Every signature raises money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals thanks to their sponsors.