Hundreds of students filled Hendrick’s Chapel on Wednesday night, sharing their experiences of discrimination on campus following news of a fraternity’s video depicting “extremely troubling and disturbing conduct.”
A letter was sent out to the campus stating that professional fraternity Theta Tau had been suspended after a video surfaced that included “words and behaviors that are extremely racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist and hostile to people with disabilities.”
The students began their protest at the Chancellor’s Office, and ended in Hendrick’s Chapel, where a student-led discussion took place.
Administrators listened, going from student to student to hear their experiences on campus relative to language used in the video.
Segregation on campus was also a hot topic among many students.
The students are demanding that the video be released.
“I am appalled and shaken by this and deeply concerned for all members of our community. The conduct is deeply harmful and contrary to the values and community standards we expect of our students. 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 said in a letter to the campus community earlier today.
The video was turned over to the Department of Public Safety, which has launched a formal investigation to identify individuals involved.
The campus may take legal and disciplinary action.
