Another UCF fraternity in trouble
By WKMG Local 6 News
ORLANDO — For the second time in three months, a University of Central Florida fraternity has been suspended after a former student claimed that he was abused and injured during an all-night off-campus hazing incident.The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, which is different than the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity that was disbanded in November, is under summary suspension at UCF while allegations of hazing pledges are investigated.
Cole Streets, 18, a freshman pledge from Fort Myers, told authorities that the incident happened during "Hell Week" at a house off a dirt road in rural Seminole County.
Streets told Local 6 News that the hazing happened at 2320 Red Amber Road more than a month ago. He said he suffered mental and physical harassment and suffered a herniated disc in his back.
Among the claims, Streets said that he was forced to jump into a trash can full of Crisco, cottage cheese, syrup and sardines; ordered to run around a fireplace barefoot; held against his will; and deprived medical care when his back was "injured severely.
"He also claimed that when he fell during one activity, a brother told him, "I don't care if you're hurt."
No active members of the fraternity would talk to Local 6 News about the night in question.
No criminal charges have been filed, and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office said it hasn't been notified about the incident nor has it seen an incident report.
"Clearly we recognize that there's an issue here, that there's a problem here," UCF spokesman Tom Evelyn said. "And we're very concerned about that, and we're going to look into it very carefully to determine what we need to do next."
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