Every fraternity at the University of Arizona has been pulled from normal activity this week. The school says nearly half of its 21 chapters are currently being investigated for issues that include physical assault, hazing, and drug and alcohol misuse, according to Arizona's Family.
Dean of Students Chrissy Lieberman told the Greek Life community this week that her office is handling as many misconduct cases as it's able to right now, and called the scale of what's under review "egregious." Until a chapter's adviser sits down with the university, that chapter can't hold or take part in any group functions. The crackdown comes about six weeks after University President Suresh Garimella met directly with fraternity presidents and put them on notice that continued conduct endangering students wouldn't be tolerated.
This isn't an isolated moment for Arizona's Greek life system. Just last month, one fraternity was suspended over allegations that members were forced to drink heavily and swallow live goldfish, and in the spring, several other chapters faced accusations involving forced alcohol consumption, drugging, and even a reported kidnapping. It also lands amid a broader wave of scrutiny nationally: a former fraternity leader at Northern Arizona University was sentenced to 60 days in jail last week over a hazing death, and Cornell is facing its own reckoning after a lawsuit alleging a 2024 fraternity sexual assault reopened old questions about how the school handles misconduct within its chapters.
Our own David Bianchi was asked to weigh in for the story, and didn't mince words about why these cases keep happening. “We’ve adopted all kinds of rules, regulations and laws to no effect. And the problem is worse, and therefore, it’s time to go to plan B.” For Bianchi, that means removing students from campus immediately once misconduct is confirmed, and prosecutors filing criminal charges without delay.
Our firm has spent decades representing families affected by hazing and pushing for accountability through litigation and through legislation like Florida's Chad Meredith Act and Andrew's Law. Arizona's decision to pump the brakes on its entire Greek system is a significant step, but as Bianchi's comments make clear, policy alone hasn't solved this problem before. And it's worth watching whether this moment leads to something more.