Weber convenes committee to review Greek life at UB

UB Vice President for Student Life A. Scott Weber, at the direction of President Satish K. Tripathi, has convened an internal committee to review Greek-letter social fraternal organizations at the university.

The directive comes in response to a troubling off-campus incident — which Buffalo Police suspect was hazing related — that happened April 12.

The incident resulted in Sebastian Serafin-Bazan, an 18-year-old UB freshman from Port Chester, N.Y., being sent to Buffalo General Hospital with a serious medical condition. Buffalo Police are investigating the incident, which involved Sigma Pi, a nationally recognized fraternity whose UB chapter has approximately 20 members.

Tripathi ordered the suspension of all Greek-letter social fraternal organizations on campus until further notice.

Weber spoke to reporters Monday afternoon to provide an update on the review committee. He began by again expressing the university community’s sympathies for Serafin-Bazan and his family.

“We’re deeply concerned about his health and well-being, but know that he’s getting the best possible care at Buffalo General Hospital. Our hearts also go out to his family during this time. We are providing all the comfort, care and help that we can during this very, very difficult time, and I hope everybody will keep Sebastian in their hearts,” Weber said.

Tripathi and Weber visited Serafin-Bazan and his family at the hospital on Saturday. “We wanted to be there. We wanted to be supportive of the family, which we’re doing in many different ways and hoping for the very best.”

The Greek life review committee will comprise between 10 and 15 members of the UB community, including faculty, staff and students. It will be chaired by Suzanne Rosenblith, dean of UB’s Graduate School of Education.

The committee will be charged with reviewing:

• Current university-wide education strategies, programs and policies associated with UB’s zero tolerance of hazing.
• Current conduct, health and safety programs including anti-hazing and Good Samaritan policies for all UB-recognized Greek-letter social fraternal organizations.
• The culture of Greek life at UB more generally and assessing its status in relation to university values.
• Best practices among nationally lauded fraternal social organizations.
• And making recommendations on Greek-letter fraternal social organizations, including programs and policies.

Weber has advised that the committee’s report and recommendations be delivered to him for the start of the fall 2019 semester.

“While that’s going on, we’ll also be reaching out and meeting with our Greek life organizations to counsel and review again with them our zero tolerance policy and the serious consequences of hazing,” Weber said.

Weber acknowledged that Greek letter fraternal social organizations offer students the opportunity to bond with each other, while doing good in the community. While the decision to suspend all Greek activities on campus may be an unpopular one, Weber said it was necessary given the seriousness of the incident.

“I recognize that this action could affect some organizations that have not engaged in any way in this activity,” Weber said. “But I would ask people who are frustrated by that decision to stop and ask if Sebastian had been their brother, their son, their nephew or their friend, someone they loved, what would they have the university do? I think it’s a very appropriate reaction,” adding that he’s comfortable with the move.

Weber said UB’s policies toward proper student conduct are stressed during new student orientation, and are clearly identified in the code of conduct and across a variety of university websites.

“I think we have a very thorough and thoughtful, comprehensive educational approach to this issue,” he said. “But I think we have to continue to evaluate how we’re doing that. Is that message being received in a way we hope it would be received?”