11 Arrested At House Party Thrown By Banned FSU Fraternity
MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) - Florida State University confirmed the arrest of 11 people on Sunday in connection with a party hosted by a fraternity that was banned by the university for hazing and alcohol violations earlier this year.
Police arrested seven students affiliated with Alpha Tau Omega fraternity on charges of hosting an open house party where alcohol was served to minors, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. Four of those arrested were charged with underage possession of alcohol.
The arrests came as the university grapples with keeping students safe as they return to campus during the coronavirus pandemic.
Campus police said in a report that they saw two women leaving the party with drinks around 10:30 p.m. Sunday. Both were over 21 and told officers they'd gotten the drinks inside the fraternity house.
Police shut down the party, and noted there had been numerous large gathering other days last week.
The university found the fraternity responsible for incidents in the spring semester including hazing, physical violence or unwelcome force against a person, possession of alcohol, having alcohol or drugs present at new member activities and failure to comply.
The fraternity did not appeal the university's decision to dismiss it from campus on Aug. 17, university spokesman Dennis Schnittker told the newspaper.
He noted the health impacts such gatherings can have on the entire campus during the pandemic.
"The vast majority of the students are behaving," Schnittker said. "But there are small groups of students who college for them is parties instead of education."
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)