The Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) national office has announced an initiative to try and prevent incidents like the one at the University of Oklahoma (OU) chapter from ever happening again.

Unveiled in a news release on their official website, the four-part approach is aimed at raising awareness on racist behavior and speech at every local SAE chapter. The fraternity is also reviewing its membership to see if the racist chant some OU Kappa chapter members were caught on tape enthusiastically shouting exists anywhere else.

"We intend to root out and eliminate this sort of reprehensible behavior from our organization," Blaine Ayers, SAE's executive director, said in the release. "Sigma Alpha Epsilon intends to be a leader among fraternities when it comes to ensuring our members are upholding our values, mission and creed. That includes a commitment to educating our members and, when they behave inappropriately, to taking swift and appropriate action."

First, the national SAE organization has already posted a job listing for a Director of Diversity and Inclusion. The fraternity created the "executive-level position" to oversee the "development, promotion and implementation of innovative strategies that lead to an enhanced and sustainable diversity within the Sigma Alpha Epsilon community."

Second, SAE said Paradigm Group Consultants will be aiding in crafting "an online certification training program rolling out at the chapter level starting next week."

Third, SAE has set up a hotline for reporting "inappropriate, offensive or illegal behaviors" to compliment their anti-hazing hotline. Callers can remain anonymous and the number is 844-ALERT-SAE (844-257-8723).

Fourth, SAE National President Brad Cohen appointed a committee made up of undergraduate fraternity members, alumni and certain outsiders to assist in the oversight of the initiative's implementation as a whole.

"Not being aware of the song does not exclude us from ownership of the situation," Ayers said. "So I want to apologize to everyone for pain that has been caused by this incident. This includes the University of Oklahoma, its staff and students as well as our approximately 15,000 undergraduate members and 200,000 living alumni whose own reputations have been tarnished by this incident."

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