LONDON, Ont. — Western University says one of its fraternities has cancelled plans to hold an unofficial version of frosh week.
The Delta Upsilon frat house had reportedly issued a social media invite for students to join “faux week” — a play on the popular freshman orientation period, or “O-Week,” that takes place in universities every September.
The social media post has since been deleted, and the fraternity did not respond to requests for comment.
But a screen shot captured by CBC News shows the frat calling it a “crime” to cancel frosh week activities.
Western’s associate vice president of student experience says the organization has decided to cancel its plans after being contacted by the university.
Jennifer Massey notes that Western “does not officially recognize fraternities or sororities and has never had affiliations or formal relationships with them.”
“However, we have had discussions today with that fraternity and after some very thoughtful dialogue they have decided to cancel this event,” Massey said in an email.
In the social media post, Delta Upsilon expressed disappointment with the school’s plan to hold a largely virtual orientation week with limited in-person events.
“We think it ought to be a downright crime to rob frosh of the late night mini-raves and partying that makes the week one of the most memorable experiences of our lives as Western students,” the post reads.
Tickets to the frat’s frosh week were priced at $100 and were advertised to include access to a number of events, including a barbecue and a paint party.
The posts emphasized that the events would be limited to 50 people and observe social distancing.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 2, 2020.
The Canadian Press
