University of Maryland: Deferred Recruitment Policy Bans First-Semester FIREFrom Joining Fraternities and Sororities

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University of Maryland: Deferred Recruitment Policy Bans First-Semester FIREFrom Joining Fraternities and Sororities

Cases

University of Maryland - College Park

Case Overview

The University of Maryland prohibits all fraternities and sororities, as a condition for university recognition, from accepting students with less than 12 credit hours. UMD provides no exceptions to this policy for any individual student or group, and imposes no similar requirement on first-semester students playing for university athletic teams, working full-time jobs, or joining other campus groups. On April 4, 2022, FIREwrote to UMD explaining that this policy improperly restricts first-semester students’ First Amendment right to freedom of association and must be rescinded.

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