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Wounded Vets Spit Upon By Zeta Beta Tau Frat Boys In Florida

By Tara Dodrill
Published on: 01:25 PST, Apr 25, 2015

Wounded vets were spit upon by members from two chapters of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity in Florida. The University of Florida and Emory University, Alabama fraternities have been accused of spitting and verbally abusing disabled veterans at a Warrior Beach Retreat in Panama City. The Zeta Beta Tau fraternity boys are also accused of urinating on the American Flag during the wounded warriors event on April 17.

The Warrior Beach Retreat in Florida is a charitable event designed to offer relaxation and socialization for the wounded soldiers and their families. The wounded vets event was held at the upscale Laketown Wharf Resort.

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The Zeta Beta Tau fraternity members are accused of not only spitting on the wounded vets, they also subjected the soldiers disrespectful taunts and threw beer at them from a balcony. Florida police were called to the Laketown Wharf Resort to aid hotel security in efforts to get the situation under control. The Zeta Beta Tau frat boys from Florida and Alabama were thrown out of the hotel, but no arrests were made for the harassment of the wounded vets.

The Zeta Beta Tau frat boys also allegedly spit on Afghanistan veteran Nicholas Connole and his service dog.

“That’s just so disrespectful and it hurts. I come and I feel honored and I feel safe and that I belong, but now I feel like I’m defending myself,” Connole said.

https://youtu.be/unJfx4lmxvY

Haley Riley, the wife of a wounded vet, said the Florida and Alabama fraternity boys threw bottles at the group gathered for the Warrior Beach Retreat event. Riley also said the Zeta Beta Tau members puked in the elevators.

Approximately 60 wounded vets, who had served in Afghanistan and Iraq, attended the Panama City Beach event with their families. Warrior Beach Retreat organizer Linda Cope told the local media that she had never seen “such disgusting acts” as those allegedly engaged in by the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity boys. Cope founded the event in honor of her son, Joshua. The young man, an Army sergeant, lost both of his legs fighting for his country.

“I have not stood up and said anything about spring break because we constantly want to get the support of the community, but if this is at all indicative of what these college students do we need to get rid of it,” Linda Cope added after recalling seeing the Zeta Beta Tau frat boys urinating on an American Flag.

Cope said that the flag was then “ripped to shreds,” and the frat boys attempted to run with it in front of the wounded vets.

Zeta Beta Tau International stated in a response to the media that three of the fraternity members from the University of Florida have been kicked out of the group. Both Emory University and the University of Florida has suspended the activities of the fraternity chapter on their respective campuses. An investigation into the behavior of the fraternity brothers is ongoing. The Florida Zeta Beta Tau chapter was already reportedly on “conduct probation” for hazing allegations prior to the wounded vets being spit upon.

“Early this week our Fraternity was made aware of reports regarding an incident between several members of two of our chapters and veterans of the Warrior Beach Retreat during independent trips to Panama City Beach. While the details of their actions are still under investigation, there is no doubt that some of our members engaged in ugly and unacceptable behavior. Their actions have no place in ZBT or anywhere, and they will not be tolerated. 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,” a release from Zeta Beta Tau International explained.

University of Florida President Kent Fuchs personally apologized for the behavior of the Zeta Beta Tau frat boys at the Warrior Beach Retreat event.

What do you think about the allegations that wounded vets were spit upon by Zeta Beta Tau fraternity members at the Warrior Beach Retreat?

[Image via Shutterstock.com]

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