Students at Penn State University (PSU) are planning to organize on campus to demand harsher punishment for the fraternity found to have posted photos of nude unconscious women on private Facebook pages.
According to the Associated Press, the students will gather at noon in front of the school's administration building. Kappa Delta Rho (KDR) suspended its PSU chapter for one year, pending an investigation, and students determined to be responsible for the photos could also face expulsion.
KDR, PSU and State College Police are all investigating the matter, but the university's sole action to this point has been a statement from its president, Eric Barron.
"This evidence, which is still being gathered by the State College Police, is appalling, offensive and inconsistent with our community's values. This is not only completely unacceptable behavior, but also potentially criminal," he said. "As president of Penn State, I am shocked and angered by the apparent disregard for not only the law, but also human dignity. I pledge that everything within our power will be done to hold those responsible accountable for their actions and to assist anyone who has been victimized by these shameful acts."
He also asked for the public to be patient while the police conduct their investigation, as the school will be able to make a more calculated move with all the information.
"There are still no named suspects in this case, nor charges - and we cannot speculate on the details of this matter without potentially compromising the investigation itself. We are not only assisting police, we also are pursuing our own student conduct inquiry," Barron said. "It's important to note that due process is a fundamental aspect of any criminal or disciplinary investigation. If we wish to find the facts and hold individuals accountable, we must honor the commitment to basic fairness in the processes involved. We will see this process through."
The KDR chapter's private Facebook pages have also been reported to contain photos and accounts of drug transactions and hazing. Barron said this case could force the school to conduct a sweeping review of its entire fraternal system.
