Sigma Alpha Epsilon Dismisses University of Oklahoma Chapter Over Racist Chant Caught on Tape
ByUPDATE (11:30 a.m. ET): OU President David Boren is holding a press conference at 11 a.m. local time, which is 12 p.m. on the East Coast and 9 a.m. on the West Coast.
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The Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity has shut down its Kappa chapter at the University of Oklahoma (OU) over a racist chant captured in a 10-second voyeur video.
Unheard, a group of students at OU that identifies itself as an "alliance of black students," first posted the video to Twitter Sunday night at 7:40 p.m. With OU President David Boren's official Twitter username mentioned in the tweet, Unheard stated, "racism is alive and well at OU."
The video in the tweet below contains offensive language.
Racism is alive at The University of Oklahoma. @President_Boren pic.twitter.com/eAvnPD8jxA
— Unheard (@OU_Unheard) March 8, 2015
Boren responded at 8:24 p.m. and said the school would immediately starting an inquiry to confirm whether or not the people in the video were OU students. Three hours later, he released a statement on Twitter saying the fraternity would be kicked off campus if the inquiry affirms who was on the video.
If the video is indeed of OU students, this behavior will not be tolerated and is contrary to all of our values. We are investigating. - DBo — David Boren (@President_Boren) March 9, 2015
Updated statement attached. - DBo pic.twitter.com/xIvnd9otgu
— David Boren (@President_Boren) March 9, 2015
When they got wind of the video, the SAE national organization decided to shut down the OU chapter, revoking all membership privileges from those involved. Local news outlets were at the OU SAE fraternity house Sunday night and spotted members packing up and leaving while police officers looked on from their squad cars.
#SigmaAlphaEpsilon members packing up and getting out of their house tonight #SAE #OU under #police protection @NEWS9 pic.twitter.com/2AuX0iHwbv — Heather HOPE (@HeatherHopeTV) March 9, 2015
According to ABC News, students held a gathering for prayer Sunday night and planned for a demonstration Monday morning. But the news outlets also captured images of a message spray painted on the SAE house reading, "Tear it Down."
#BreakingNews "Tear It Down" spray painted just now on side #SigmaAlphaEpsilon house. #SAE #OU @NEWS9 @rustysurette pic.twitter.com/FooJrlqPq5
— Heather HOPE (@HeatherHopeTV) March 9, 2015
"I was not only shocked and disappointed but disgusted by the outright display of racism displayed in the video," Brad Cohen, SAE's national president, said in the fraternity's announcement. "SAE is a diverse organization, and we have zero tolerance for racism or any bad behavior. When we learned about this incident, I called an immediate board meeting, and we determined with no mental reservation whatsoever that this chapter needed to be closed immediately. I am proud of my fellow board members because we mean what we say."
I know I speak for all when I say I'm disgusted and shocked by the video involving our @sae1856 chapter at Uof OK. They will be dealt with. — Brad Cohen (@SAE_ESA_brad) March 9, 2015
Our deed follows our word... Zero tolerance for bad behavior https://t.co/05GGfRjYoX
— Brad Cohen (@SAE_ESA_brad) March 9, 2015
To @sae1856 members, key to being True Gentlemen is always doing the right thing when no one is watching. Treat all with respect & dignity — Brad Cohen (@SAE_ESA_brad) March 9, 2015
Chelsea Davis, a co-director of Unheard and an OU junior, told ABC News the group only got started at the beginning of the semester. She also said the video was recorded over the weekend.
"Clearly in that video, that is nothing new," Davis said. "That is nothing that just sparks up overnight. That is a chant that was well-known, well-versed, and seemed to be OK with everybody that was involved."