So much for not hazing. Last week, several members of the historically African-American sorority Zeta Phi Beta, Inc. at the University of Maryland were charged with assault and allegedly hazing for beating pledges, according to the Washington Post.
According to police, the sorority sisters beat a female pledge, slamming her into a wall and attacking her body– including hitting the woman with an oak paddle. The events occurred in October, say authorities, and the sorority was suspended from campus in November.
The women charged are Amber Bijou, Bridget Blount, Montressa Hammond, Kandyce Jackson, Tymesha Pendleton, Zakiya Shivers and Monika Young. All seven women are in their 20s.
Four national Greek councils exist at the University of Maryland: Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, Pan-Hellenic Council and the United Greek Council. Zeta Phi Beta was a member of the Pan-Hellenic Council, composed of nine historically black sororities and fraternities. The Council is not affiliated with IFC, PHA or UGC.
According to the sorority’s website, Zeta Phi Beta advocates scholarship, sisterly love, service and finer womanhood—in today’s culture, is it really necessary to paddle a pledge to prove her sisterly love?
“I’m annoyed,” said journalism major Alex Scarfone, a sister of Sigma Kappa. “One chapter’s choice to haze makes the rest of Maryland’s Greek life look terrible.”
Zeta Phi Beta’s website also advocates against all types of hazing. “Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., has a membership intake policy, which forbids all forms of hazing,” reads the website.
It's All Greek to Me 