Horrendous frat video detailing homophobic, racist and ableist initiation sparks outrage
A Syracuse University fraternity who mocked gay, Jewish, black and disabled people has been suspended after a leaked video of the society’s initiation process sparked outrage online.
The video, which was leaked by someone filming the event, depicts a group of white, male students making racial and anti-gay slurs during the fraternity’s initiation ceremony, reports LGBTQ Nation.
The videos were posted in a secret Facebook group called Tau of Theta Tau by a user named David Yankowy III.
The Theta Tau initiation process shows one student say: “I solemnly swear to always have hatred in my heart for n*****s, sp*cs and most importantly, the fucking k*kes.”
The fraternity also took an oath to “fuck black people, and fuck sp*cs, amen” during the ceremony, reported the school’s newspaper The Daily Orange.
In one video, which was not released, the Daily Orange reported one fraternity member making a derogatory remark about “gay girly accents.”
Another clip showed several members poking fun at mental illnesses. “He’s drooling out of his mouth because he’s retarded in a wheelchair,” one person said to Newsweek.
“I am appalled and shaken by this and deeply concerned for all members of our community,” said Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud in an email to the university.
“Upon confirming Theta Tau’s involvement, the University’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities immediately suspended the fraternity, effectively halting all activities,” he wrote.
“At this time, all evidence has been turned over to the Department of Public Safety, which has launched a formal investigation to identify individuals involved and to take additional legal and disciplinary action.”
A rally was formed by disgusted students on the campus on Wednesday evening calling for the society to be disbanded.
“What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now,” as well as, “Hey hey, ho ho, Theta Tau has got to go,” chanted the 400 students that attended the march.
Syracuse’s Department of Public Safety on campus are currently investigating the footage to identify members involved and are planning to seek additional legal and disciplinary actions against them.
