Frat Suspended After Distributing Rapey Survey

[Recursion]

Jezebel posts this shudder-worthy article:

It isn't uncommon for fraternities to get into trouble for hazing or alcohol policy violations, but a University of Vermont fraternity is in hot water simply for circulating a survey to its members. The brothers just wanted to get to know each other a little better by asking for some basic info from one another, like "name," "major," "favorite memories," and "If I could rape someone, who would it be?" Oh...yikes.

WCAX reports that yesterday UVM put Sigma Phi Epsilon on suspension after it became the latest fraternity to engage in some rape-promoting banter. Though the full questionnaire hasn't been released, according to student blogs, the last question got out when a new member sent the document to a teaching assistant instead of his homework (note to self: when saving files, make sure to give them clear names like, "NON-INCRIMINATING MATH HW.doc" and "DISTURBING EVIDENCE OF MY LADY-HATING WAYS.doc&quot . The frat was already on probation for alcohol violations, and after a student sent out a tip, SigEp was told to cease all activities by both UVM and the national fraternity.

The roughly 45 members are allowed to continue living in the house for the time being, but more disciplinary action could be coming. UVM officials are investigating and say they've asked campus police to determine if criminal charges need to be filed. According to The Burlington Free Press, the frat will also be getting a visit from a representative of the national organization, which issued this statement:

"The Fraternity has instructed the chapter to cease all operations, pending further investigation. Sigma Phi Epsilon and its leadership programs are built on the concept of respect for both self and others. Any behavior that demeans women is not tolerated by the Fraternity. National Fraternity representatives, volunteers and university officials are investigating this situation and will take appropriate action to uphold the Fraternity's values."

[MineralMan]

1. After an investigation, everyone involved in creating

this should be expelled. No punishment, no lesson.

[Initech]

7. This is one instance where I'd absolutely apply zero tolerance.

[Taverner]

2. Asshole

And an idiot

What was he thi- oh yeah - that's right, he WASN'T thinking...

[Bucky]

3. I suppose some rightwing asshat is gonna gripe about political correctness run amok in this case

I loathe that meme, by the way. Nine times out of ten when a person complains about "political correctness" they're really bitching about being called out for bad manners. Anyone making jokes about rape needs to take a harsh lesson in good manners.

[Recursion]

5. I usually ask "what specifically do you wish you could say without being called out for?"

Getting that on the table first and then asking why not being socially and politically held responsible for what you say (which after all is what political correctness is) is a good thing.

[wryter2000]

13. Someone on DU probably will rail about political correctness run amok

Can't ya take a joke? It was funny, har-har.



I've seen enough of that here in the very recent past.

[Capitalocracy]

4. I wonder if anyone who took that wrote in:

"You."

[kenny blankenship]

9. He would get in trouble for misunderstanding the Rules of Hazing

Initiated members initiate non-initiated members with their members, not the other way around.

[Capitalocracy]

11. Yes, that's correct... a terrible faux pas indeed. nt

[Initech]

6. WTF... these idiots should absolutely be expelled.

[Monk06]

8. Two of the three Universities I attended banned Fraternities for just these sorts of reasons.

This cult like obsession with brotherhood is not just Neofascist but overtly Fascist. Frat boys I have
been acquainted with, through an ex girlfriend, were vile immature caricatures of men. They pride themselves on being adults but for some reason after two beers they can't pull it off.

All that masonic secret handshake stuff is pathetic. It's only so-called conservatives that support these institutions whose only purpose is to keep white males in power.

[hifiguy]

10. What is it with some of these frats?

I was in a fraternity 30 years ago. If ANYONE had been caught hazing a pledge or circulating something like this our national would have been on us like white on rice and we would have been booted out of the national frat posthaste.

Our "punishment" during pledge week was that we had to sleep in sleeping bags in the downstairs TV room all week. The only thing even uncomfortable about it other than sleeping on the floor was the occasional smell of some of the pledge brothers.

[Hardrada]

12. We thought the frats and sororities on our campus were reactionary

so we formed a coed group which beat them in trivia contests. Otherwise we mainly drank a lot. Our name was The Vandals. Our motto was In Vino Ad Astra.

[seabeyond]

14. this is what people are saying. things are different than they were

and not for the better.

but when discussed, we are told it is no different. i grew up 3 decades (ok, not quite) ago. things were different.