Student Council met in the Engineering School Tuesday as a part of its StudCo Comes to You initiative. During the event, Council discussed its views on recent incidents of racism within Greek communities at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Maryland and was updated on the revisions to the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Representative Body Chair Abraham Axler, a second-year College student, said University President Teresa Sullivan invited various student representatives together to discuss the progress of the new Fraternal Organization Agreements and the latest national focus on Greek life following two instances of racist remarks from university fraternities in Maryland and Oklahoma.
A video was recently released of the University of Oklahoma’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon chanting a racist song. The University of Oklahoma initially banned the chapter and expelled two members, while the fraternity’s national organization has since closed the chapter and suspended its members. The University of Maryland is also investigating a racist email allegedly sent by a member of its Kappa Sigma chapter.
Axler asked for Council’s opinions on both cases and their potential effects on the University.
Safety and Wellness Committee Chair Rachel Murphy, a third-year College student, said while she thinks the language used by the Oklahoma fraternity was deplorable at best, hate speech is still Constitutionally protected.
“I don’t know if you can kick students out of a university even if you don’t agree with what they’re saying…even if what they’re saying is inappropriate and doesn’t reflect the view of the university,” Murphy said. “I can’t throw out every single person who said something homophobic or sexist or racist — there would be five people left.”
However, Murphy said she wants to work toward a community on Grounds where such speech deemed unacceptable.
Council College Rep. Klaus Dollhopf, a fifth-year student, said he believes brothers not directly involved should have been allowed to keep their alumni status and would have preferred to see suspension and mandatory sensitivity training rather than expulsion.
“I agree with the national fraternity’s decision,” Dollhopf said. “I don’t necessarily [agree] with them revoking membership status of all the brothers. That should only have been done after investigation.”
Council College Rep. Antonio de la Peña, a fourth-year College student, said he has noticed a trend of Greek organizations being removed from college campuses.
“The best course of action is to punish those who specifically did it,” de la Peña said. “Don’t punish all for the actions of some.”
Council Director of University Relations Faith Lyons, a third-year Commerce student, also noted a trend of “kicking entire systems off campus.”
“There is an element of due process involved,” Lyons said. “[I] assume U.Va. is interested because of the situation with Greek life last semester.”
Student Council President Jalen Ross, a fourth-year Engineering student, also updated Council on the progress of the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy.
“In the next week or two we should have the new revised misconduct policy,” Ross said.
Ross said that as far as he believes, the University is considering moving to a single investigator model in an adversarial trial process. This step would be followed by a student panel which then decides upon appropriate punishment.
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