Panhellenic sorority activities have been partially suspended after a new member was hospitalized due to an incident with alcohol Tuesday night.
The new member is currently in critical condition in the hospital and the incident is being investigated, according to an email sent to Duke's Panhellenic community Wednesday morning signed by Clarybel Peguero, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Anya Ranganathan, president of Panhellenic Council.
"We will discuss the incident, review Duke’s expectations for all chapters and their members and ask each chapter to review its activities to ensure compliance,” Peguero and Ranganathan wrote in the email. "The safety of members of our community is of utmost importance.”
An emergency meeting was held Wednesday at 5 p.m. with all 10 Panhellenic chapter presidents and the Panhellenic Executive Board in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life conference room, according to the email.
Following the meeting, Peguero and Ranganathan wrote in a second email to Duke's Panhellenic community that the full suspension announced Wednesday morning would be partially lifted. With the modified suspension, chapters can still host events without alcohol. Social events will not be allowed until Monday.
"Please utilize this time to reflect and keep in mind the severity of this incident. We must maintain our sense of urgency to change the campus culture," Peguero and Ranganathan wrote in the email.
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Keith Lawrence, executive director of the Office of News and Communications, could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta wrote in an email addressed to the families of students Wednesday afternoon that the student who was hospitalized is expected to recover fully.
He specified that during the meeting Wednesday evening, each chapter would be asked to “review its activities to ensure compliance with policies on social events, rush and alcohol use.”
"The health, well-being and safety of our students is the highest priority, and we look forward to working with the sorority leaders toward that end,” Moneta wrote.
Check back for updates on this developing story. This story was updated at 5:45 p.m. to include Moneta's comments, at 6:45 p.m. to indicate the information about the full suspension being partially lifted and after 11 p.m. to note who could not be reached for comment.
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