The University of Richmond has suspended a fraternity over a mass email it sent around campus. The message, which was sent to about 100 students, contained "grossly offensive language."
According to The Collegian, a student newspaper, fraternity Kappa Alpha Order was suspended by its national headquarters and the University of Richmond after one member emailed more than 95 students, including freshmen, at 12:55 p.m. of Sep. 9. "Tonight's the type of night that makes fathers afraid to send their daughters away to school," the email read. "Let's get it."
The controversial email is entitled "The wait is finally over." It told recipients to "make sure your ass makes it" to the opening night of the lodges, where students get served beer and dress to themes designated by the fraternities.
"We learned this morning of an email from two undergraduate members of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity that was sent to about 100 students on campus," the school said in an official statement. "The e-mail contained grossly offensive language and suggestions of behavior inconsistent with our policies concerning Greek life and with the caring nature of our campus community."
Richmond's Kappa Alpha Order chapter noted that "gentlemanly conduct is at the core of Kappa Alpha Order's values." Chapter operations are temporarily suspended at the school while they conduct and in-depth, individual review and investigation.
"In light of recent events, and specifically this email correspondence, the IFC and Panhellenic Council are deeply disheartened and frustrated," the school's Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council, said. "As a community we work hard to provide relevant education, programming, and support, and our leadership has been continuously focused on improving and increasing risk and safety precautions."
USA Today College reported that the national Kappa Alpha Order website proudly states that the fraternity is a provider of "a moral compass for the modern gentleman." The publication added that the Delta Upsilon chapter at Washington State was suspended for allegations of sexual assault.
