A University of Florida fraternity expelled three of its members Friday after reports revealed that the students spat on disabled military veterans at a Panama City resort.
Zeta Beta Tau Executive Director Laurence Bolotin said that the fraternity chose to expel the students after finding that they behaved inappropriately while they were in Panama City for a spring formal, CBS news reported Friday.
“I am deeply saddened that the actions of our members ruined this special event and failed to show the respect our military and their families so deserve,” Mr. Bolotin said, CBS reported.
The veterans were at the beach for the Warrior Beach Retreat at the Laketown Wharf Resort last weekend when the fraternity had its social event.
The fraternity members were drunk and hurled insults at the veterans, spat on them, and stole their American flags.
“They were urinating off of balconies, vomiting off of balconies. They could see the men and women below were there with the retreat. They had on hats and shirts with logos,” Linda Cope, founder of Warrior Beach Retreat said, CBS reported.
SEE ALSO: Zeta Beta Tau fraternity members spit on wounded veterans during Panama City retreat
University of Florida President Kent Fuchs called the students’ behavior unacceptable. In a letter to Ms. Cope, Mr. Fuchs said the school is making every effort to learn what happened at the resort and take appropriate action.
Zeta Beta Tau is already on conduct probation for a hazing incident that took place in the fall semester, CBS reported. It has suspended operations and is cooperating with the school’s investigation and has hired its own independent investigator to determine what happened at the resort.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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