The Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) national office is making good on its vow to investigate what could have led to a racist chant sung loud and proud on during one their chapter's official events.

In a statement the fraternity has been updating periodically since the news broke, SAE said it has begun holding hearings for the suspended OU Kappa chapter members. The proceedings are being held to formally strip their membership with the national SAE organization.

"At the same time, the headquarters has learned of the expulsion of two chapter members from the university, which we support," the national office said in the statement. "Although university officials have not communicated directly with headquarters staff or leadership, we believe that these men must be held responsible for their actions."

Additionally, SAE noted in their statement these two students indicated the chant was "taught." SAE dismissed the notion that there is inherent racism passed down from the national organization, which is why the said they "did not hesitate to close the chapter completely because of the culture that may have been fostered in the group."

Still, as SAE has already publicly disclosed, they have received complaints of similar racist behavior at a number of chapters throughout the nation. Florida, Louisiana Tech and Oklahoma State are just three instances that have garnered media attention.

As the fraternity has repeatedly iterated, the New York Times reported, the "never be a n----- at SAE" chant is not part of the "Sigma Alpha Epsilon tradition."

"This is reflective of a larger issue," Marquis Ard, a 23-year-old African-American senior at OU and a member of the school's black fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha, told the Times. "If they're doing that on a charter bus, what are they doing in the library, at football games?"

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