A Syracuse fraternity has been permanently expelled over an offensive video that showed members pledging to ‘always have hatred in their hearts for n******, sp*** and ki***’.
Chancellor Kent Syverud called the Theta Tau video ‘racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, ableist and sexist’ in a video posted on Saturday to the university’s website.
He added that once the university’s investigation concludes students involved may be suspended or expelled as punishment for the video that sees them making a series of offensive pledges.
The Syracuse University fraternity involved in a ‘racist’ video has been permanently suspended for the scandal
Chancellor Kent Syverud said on Saturday students involved may be suspended or expelled
One student, who is on his knees, can be heard pledging: ‘I solemnly swear to always have hatred in my heart for n******, s**** and most importantly the f****** k****’.
One member can even be heard telling Jews to ‘get in the shower’ in reference to Nazi gas chambers.
The members, who seem to all be male, can also be seen encouraging each other to simulate several sex acts.
One of the students can be seen kneeling in front of another, who asks him: ‘Do you know what you signed up for today?’
The man on his knees makes a series of sexually explicit motions before reciting ‘the oath’.
He shouts: ‘F*** black people.’
Students can also be heard joking about people with mental illnesses.
Syverud also said the university will conduct a ‘top-to-bottom review’ of Greek life on campus: ‘We know this issue extends beyond one fraternity and one video.’
As well as making a series of racial comments, the frat’s members could be seen performing a number of simulated sex acts on each other
Theta Tau, a national engineering fraternity, said in an apologetic statement on Friday that the activities were intended as a ‘satirical sketch’
Theta Tau, a national engineering fraternity, said in an apologetic statement on Friday that the activities were intended as a ‘satirical sketch’ depicting an uneducated, intolerant person.
‘Each semester our new members are given the opportunity to write and act out a skit, in order to roast the active brothers. This event was never intended to be centered around racism or hate. This year, one of these brothers is a conservative Republican, and the new members roasted him by playing the part of a racist conservative character,’ the New York school’s Theta Tau chapter says on its website.
‘It was a satirical sketch of an uneducated, racist, homophobic, misogynist, sexist, ableist and intolerant person. The young man playing the part of this character nor the young man being roasted do not hold any of the horrible views espoused as a part of that sketch.’
Pictured above is the chapter’s full apology letter, published late Thursday night
Hundreds protested on campus on Wednesday to show their distaste for the video
The chapter said it’s embarrassed, disappointed and ashamed, adding, ‘Anyone of color or of any marginalized group who has seen this video has every right to be angry and upset with the despicable contents of that video.’
‘First and foremost, every single member of Theta Tau would like to apologize to everyone affected by the racist video,’ the chapter said.
The national engineering fraternity said in its own statement that despite the context, there’s no excuse.
Both the national group and the chapter stressed that they support inclusiveness.
On Friday morning, a group of students demanding change confronted Chancellor Syverud, who previously called the video racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist and hostile to people with disabilities.
Syverud spoke to the Today show on Friday, saying he was shocked when he saw the video.
‘My reaction was of disbelief that these were our students,’ Syveryd said.
The video was first posted to a secret Facebook group for the fraternity, but later obtained by the campus’ independent student newspaper, The Daily Orange, which posted it for the public.
The fraternity’s national office also released a statement, saying they have a ‘no tolerance policy for this troubling and offensive behavior’
Theta Tau is a national organisation that was founded in 1904. Around 30,000 people have been initiated into the fraternity since.
Michael Abraham, the executive director of the Theta Tau Central Office, confirmed the organization are looking into the claims.
According to the Daily Orange, Theta Tau is the fourth fraternity to get suspended during the 2017-18 academic school year.
Sigma Alpha Mu was banned following a probe into hazing. Alpha Epsilon Pi was suspended in February for unsafe conduct involving a new member.
While Delta Tau Delta was also reportedly suspended last fall for hazing.