Syracuse fraternity suspended after video of bigoted behavior is released
Videos from a private Facebook page show homophobic and racist insults
A Syracuse University fraternity was suspended on Wednesday after a video surfaced showing members participating in racist, homophobic and sexist behavior.
Syracuse’s independent student newspaper, The Daily Orange, acquired videos filmed in the Theta Tau house that show a man forcing another man to his knees and making him repeat an oath while holding a can as if it were his member.
“I solemnly swear to always have hatred in my heart for n***ers, sp*cs and most importantly the fuckin’ k*kes,” the person on his knees repeats, then pretends to perform sexual favors on the can.
In another video, a person instructs a group to “get together and [talk] about their significant others while drinking different wines and talking in gay girly accents.”
The recording shows the videos were posted on a secret Facebook group called “Tau of Theta Tau.” It was reported that other videos in the same group used anti-Semitic language and insulted people with disabilities.
Chancellor Kent Syverud sent out a campus-wide email calling the videos “extremely troubling.”
“I am appalled and shaken by this and deeply concerned for all members of our community,” Syverud said. “There is absolutely no place at Syracuse University for behavior or language that degrades any individual or group’s race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, disability or religious beliefs.”
Syverud also said that after confirming Theta Tau was involved, they suspended the fraternity immediately.
The Department of Public Safety will begin a formal investigation to “identify individuals involved and to take additional legal and disciplinary action.”
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