University President Wallace Loh sent an email this morning to the campus community further condemning the racist and sexist email sent in January 2014 by a member of this university’s Kappa Sigma fraternity chapter.
Loh said the university must work together to promote diversity while The Office of Civil Rights and Misconduct and University Police investigate all aspects of the email: who wrote it, that person’s motivation for writing it, who received it and what the recipients did when they received the email.
“The sexist, racist, and misogynist message, which also disparaged consent in sexual conduct, has provoked angst and anger on our campus and beyond,” Loh wrote in the email. “Now, we must work to undo this damage, promote healing, and do justice.”
The fraternity member allegedly sent the email during last year’s fraternity spring rush period, telling the email’s recipients, through the use of racial slurs, not to invite black, Indian and Asian women to a rush party “unless they’re hot.”
The student also alluded to sexual assault, telling the email’s recipients to “erect, assert, and insert, and above all else, f— consent.”
Loh said the email proves there is a need to change “organizational culture.” While specifically examining Greek life, universities should also look at their culture at large, Loh said.
“It’s not just the individual,” Loh said. “It’s that organization, or the culture of that organization, that somehow allows that kind of conduct to happen.”
However, changing culture is difficult, Loh said. To address this task, as well as ways to increase inclusiveness on the campus, Loh will seek advice from student leaders such as Student Government Association President Patrick Ronk.
Loh also started a Twitter conversation Friday afternoon about the email, while using #LohChat to interact with the campus community.
“We’re going to have some open town halls and forums and figure out other ways to have a campus conversation,” Ronk said. “Besides just punishing the student, figuring out how to come out of this better as a community.”
The national Kappa Sigma chapter immediately suspended the member after learning of the email. The member then submitted a letter of resignation, according to a statement released March 13 by the national Kappa Sigma chapter in response to the email.
Loh said in his email that Greek life is still valued at this university and he appreciates the various statements condemning the email from the university Interfraternity Council, National Panhellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council and the Panhellenic Association.
“Those who read the email should be upset, should be surprised, and should expect better, because the IFC does,” the IFC statement read. “We will do whatever we can to eradicate any tolerance of violence against women, disrespect, integrity, and unity, regardless of their identity.”
Staff writer Taylor Swaak contributed to this report.
