The University of Georgia (UGA) has suspended the Xi-Lambda chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity after a video showed a group of its members using a racial slur and mocking slavery, The Hill reports.
TKE, a national fraternity, released a statement on Twitter condemning the newly viral video. “Tau Kappa Epsilon is disgusted, appalled and angered by the remarks shown in a video of four expelled members,” the fraternity said. “TKE will not tolerate any actions such as these that would be defined as racist, discriminatory and/or offensive.”
TKE confirmed that the students involved in the video were expelled from the fraternity. “These four individuals acted outside the expectations of our membership and their chapter and therefore were removed from both,” the fraternity said.
The Xi-Lambda chapter was ordered to cease all operations, including social events and activities, after a video of a White man using a belt to slap another who is hidden under covers on a bed went viral on social media. The student who was hit replied, “I am not Black” after the person who hit him ordered “picky my cotton.” Another person in the video was heard saying, “You’re not using the right words,” before someone used the N-word.
UGA also took to social media to address the recent scandal. “The fraternity has been suspended by its national organization. Whenever we receive complaints of racist or discriminatory conduct, we refer such matters to our Equal Opportunity Office in accordance with applicable laws and policies.”
The university’s Student Government Association said last week that an investigation has been launched. “We have been notified that the chapter is currently suspended, and we can confirm that there is an investigation underway regarding the students involved in the video.”
TKE is the second fraternity to be suspended from UGA in recent months. According to The Hill, “Theta Chi has been placed under interim suspension as early as February for unspecified reasons.”
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