Syracuse University Expels Frat After 'Racist,' Homophobic Videos

SYRACUSE, NY — Syracuse University has permanently expelled an engineering fraternity days after video of its members surfaced that the university called "extremely racist, anti-semitic, homophobic, sexist, and hostile to people with disabilities." Also on Saturday, the student newspaper published a second video that appears to show fraternity members pretending to sexually assault a person with disabilities.

In a video published to the university's website Saturday, Chancellor Kent Syverud addresses the "disgusting video."

"We are permanently expelling the Syracuse University chapter of Theta Tau," Syverud says. "Today, Dean of Students Robert Hradsky delivered a letter to Theta Tau leadership confirming this decision. This follows the immediate action we took within two hours of receiving and authenticating the video."

The fraternity was suspended on Wednesday when The Daily Orange published videos filmed in Theta Tau's house that showed one person coercing another to his knees and asking him to recite an oath that includes racial slurs.

"I solemnly swear to always have hatred in my heart for [slur], [slur], and most importantly the f---ing [slur]," one person said, referencing black, Hispanic and Jewish people.

In another recording, someone yells at two other people using anti-Semitic language: "You f---ing [slur], get in the f--king showers," he says, alluding to Nazi gas chambers. The video also shows frat members laughing as they pretend to perform sex acts on each other.

"He's drooling out of his mouth, because he's retarded in a wheelchair," one person says. "So the hole is already very lubricated."

"Yankee is totally unaware of this light rape that's occurring," one person says.

Syverud says the university's public safety department has interviewed more than three dozen people connected to the fraternity sponsored event.

"By the end of this weekend, DPS will begin recommending charges and making referrals of students to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, the office responsible for our student disciplinary process," he says.

That office will initiate the student judicial process, which will determine the outcomes that are required. Outcomes could include suspension or expulsion. Each student can appeal the outcome of the hearing.

The dean will make a final decision and an update will be provided Monday.

Syverud says he's met with student leaders and the diversity and inclusion council.

"We have a lot of work to do. And concrete steps are more important than any words I can speak today. Clearly the first and most critical step is expelling the fraternity. Now, we are focused on leading the investigation of the individuals involved to a swift and fair conclusion"

Syverud says this issue extends to more than one fraternity and one video. They've begun a "top-to-bottom" review of the entire Greek system.

Student protested and held a discussion on Wednesday. They staged a sit-in at the student center on Friday.

The local chapter of the fraternity apologized in a statement on Thursday for what it called a satirical sketch.

"It was a satirical sketch of an uneducated, racist, homophobic, misogynist, sexist, ableist and intolerant person," the statement said. "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. We would like to believe that the new members seen in the video laughing at the horrible things being said were not laughing in concurrence with these beliefs, but in fact the opposite—that racism, sexism and homophobia are so wrong that they are laughable. None of the satire was said or done in malice. "

The national organization says will also take action based on an investigation.

"As our preliminary investigation progressed through the day, it was revealed that the video was a parody, skit, or roast of the active brothers by a pledge class, and not Chapter members hazing, humiliating, or disparaging its pledges as the university had described to our Central Office," the national group said in a statement. "However, this does not excuse the behavior."

The national organization said it plans to hold its members and chapters to a higher standard.

Photo credit: Debra Millet/Shutterstock