CONWAY -- After an internal investigation, the University of Central Arkansas has deemed a video of a sorority event showing students ordered to do push-ups to be nothing more than "a bad joke."
New sorority members of Alpha Sigma Tau are seen in the video taking orders from an upperclassman fraternity member whose affiliation was unknown.
The video footage was found not to meet UCA's criteria for hazing, according to UCA.
"Our Office of Student Life concluded that although this is a bad joke and those involved showed poor judgment, it did not meet that definition," UCA spokesman Christina Madsen said in a statement.
Madsen said no formal complaint was filed, and the university looked into the allegation as it would any report of possible hazing.
UCA's Greek Life policy includes push-ups as an example of activities "construed as hazing by the courts and/or institutions of higher education."
The university also defines hazing as "intentional action taken or situation created ... to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule."
Greek Life leaders met with sorority and fraternity members regarding the event captured on video to educate the students on how to prevent similar behavior in the future, according to UCA.
State Desk on 09/18/2015