Penn State University has kicked Kappa Delta Rho fraternity off campus for three years for what the school said Tuesday was systemic hazing and sexual harassment — including the posting of photos of nude women on a secret Facebook page.
The decision reverses a judgment by Penn State's Interfraternity Council, which ruled that the fraternity could stay as long as it instituted numerous education and training programs, even though the chapter had already been suspended by the Kappa Delta Rho national office.
But "the sum of the organizational misbehaviors is far more than the University can tolerate from a student organization that seeks its imprimatur," Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims wrote in a letter to the council released Tuesday.
A State College police investigation in March uncovered private Facebook pages publishing pictures of nude women who appeared to be unconscious "and other highly inappropriate images of activities undertaken by members," the university said in a statement.
Among other misconduct, according to the statement, fraternity members engaged in:
- Sexual harassment and misconduct.
- Hazing, including forcing pledges to participate in boxing matches.
- Using and selling drugs.
- Underage drinking.
- "Persistent harassment of two females."
"The investigative report makes clear that some members of the KDR chapter promoted a culture of harassing behavior and degradation of women," according to Sims' letter. "These are not acceptable actions within a student organization that is recognized and supported by Penn State."
IN-DEPTH
- Penn State Vows to Punish Those Behind Sordid Kappa Delta Rho Frat Facebook Page
- Fraternity Crackdown: Universities Are Clamping Down Hard, But Do Bans Work?
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