JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A suspended University of North Florida fraternity has blamed its five-year suspension on everyone from “a weird girl” to a football star.
The university’s records tell a different story: nude pledges, drugs and a chapter that kept breaking a university order while it was under investigation for hazing.
On Instagram, UNF’s Omega Zeta chapter of Chi Phi blamed its five-year suspension on “a weird girl not being invited to their party” and “being in solidarity with Jaden Daniels.”
Less than 24 hours after Action News Jax took its concerns to university officials, the account was deactivated. UNF says it didn’t order that, and that an inactive account alone wouldn’t warrant conduct charges.
The university’s report found photos from last fall of pledges posing nude, being sprayed with a hose, using drugs and holding presumed ritual items.
“Just always look out for the signs. Don’t ignore them, and if you feel like something is off, it’s okay to walk away,” one student said.
“I don’t [think] it should be that stressful,” another student said. “So yeah, I really feel bad for whoever went through that.”
A conduct panel found Chi Phi responsible for hazing, endangerment, and drug and alcohol violations. UNF police, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Children and Families were notified.
UNF says the first report came from a high school student who heard about it secondhand. No high schoolers were involved.
The chapter is suspended until 2031, a year longer than usual, so current members can’t bring the same culture back.
UNF says students involved were referred for conduct charges, but it won’t share the outcomes, citing privacy laws. It says it hasn’t received any reports of the chapter still operating.
“A couple of classmates are involved,” a student said. “They all tell me it’s different from the big schools, all chill, but I guess not.”
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