TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- The Florida State University President is suspending all Greek life on campus after the death of a 20 year old Pi Kappa Phi fraternity member, Andrew Coffe, on Friday. President John Thrasher says, "Losing a member of the Florida State University family is always hard, but to see a young persons life cut short is especially heart-breaking."
Thrasher says what occurred is a problem and requires an immediate response and a serious message from the administration. He says all sorority and fraternity chapters will be prohibited from holding new member events, weekly chapter meetings and chapter organized tailgates, socials or events of any kind until further notice. In addition, participation in market Wednesday's and Homecoming events will be supervised.
President John Thrasher says, "Like most universities, we worry about alcohol and drug abuse and other dangerous behaviors and we are doing all we can to educate our students. But our students and their organizations on campus must step up." Thrasher stresses that this pause is necessary to review and reflect on the loss of a young life.
He adds that for the suspension to end, there needs to be a new normal for Greek life at the university. According to Thrasher, he and the administration feel they need to implement changes to fraternity and sorority life to benefit the safety and well-being of students. Thrasher is asking for student body participation to create a new culture for Greek life on campus.
