NC State’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi accepted responsibility for a book found near campus last week that was filled with offensive comments written next to the signatures of current fraternity members, in a statement issued Sunday night.
Max Copeland, the president of Pi Kappa Phi – Tau Chapter, sent a letter to the Technician apologizing for the offensive words and comments in the book, including blatantly racist and sexist quotes, which was found in a nearby restaurant Thursday and turned over to a local media outlet.
“These quotes were not intended to offend individuals or the community, but they are unacceptable by any means,” Copeland said in the statement. “The quotes were in poor taste and show a lack of respect to our fellow students. This was truly unacceptable behavior on the part of our chapter’s members. Our behavior has brought anger and dismay to the NC State Community, and we accept responsibility.”
The national Pi Kappa Phi fraternity organization placed the chapter on interim suspension Friday after news of the contents of the small, green book appeared on WRAL Thursday evening.
While under interim suspension, the chapter cannot hold meetings or participate in philanthropic or social events.
Comments handwritten in the notebook contained racially and sexually offensive language and derogatory comments about women and children.
“It will be short and painful, just like when I rape you,” “If she’s hot enough, she doesn’t need a pulse,” and “That tree is so perfect for lynching,” are examples of some of the comments found in the book.
The university also suspended its chapter of Alpha Tau Omega Friday. University Police released a WolfAlert about a reported sexual assault that happened at the house in early March, and the organization is currently under investigation by the university regarding allegations that one or more of the fraternity’s members were dealing drugs.
In response to both sets of allegations and growing national concern about problems within Greek Life, the university temporarily suspended all social activities involving alcohol for all fraternities within NC State’s Interfraternity Council.
The social suspension applies to 19 organizations that are not already suspended; in addition to ATO and Pi Kappa Phi, Theta Chi was already suspended pending an investigation. According to a statement issued by the university Friday the suspension is an attempt to allow the Greek community time to put measures in place “to better address and elevate expectations for high standards of behavior.”
The statement said the suspension will include meetings and discussions identifying the main problems that need to be addressed with university administrators, setting goals related to these problems and determining processes to help achieve the identified goals.
The same statement said the university has already identified some areas in need of improvement, which include ensuring more accountability, adding additional bystander intervention and training regarding a variety of areas including diversity, inclusion and social justice.
Mike Mullen, the vice chancellor and dean of the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, said it is important to realize that groups within Greek Life and across campus are already having conversations about how to combat racism and continue to embrace diversity.
Chancellor Randy Woodson did not comment on the situation.
Shelly Dobek, the director of Greek Life at NC State, said in an email the Department of Greek Life is working in partnership with Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, the Tau chapter and university administrators to understand the extent these behaviors permeate chapter membership to determine an appropriate response to the situation.
“The Department of Greek Life finds the comments reprehensible and in direct conflict with both the fraternity’s espoused values and the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” Dobek said.
In a statement released Friday, Pi Kappa Phi Chief Executive Officer Mark E. Timmes condemned the quotes in the book and said the national fraternity, which is headquartered in Charlotte, has sent staff to Raleigh to investigate the situation.
“These statements are inconsistent with the values of Pi Kappa Phi and will not be tolerated,” Timmes said in the statement.
The statement said the national fraternity is working closely with the university and has instructed members to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Katie Perry, a senior studying Spanish who reported the book to WRAL Thursday, said she has no interest in using the discovery of the concerning phrases to shut down fraternities.
“I really want this event to be a positive change so that our campus is a safer place,” Perry said in a Technician interview. “I don’t feel that fraternities should be shut down, but rather be held to a higher standard.”
A recent alumnus of NC State’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, who spoke to the Technician on the condition of anonymity, said the pledge book was left in the restaurant by a 2015 spring pledge who got the information from brothers during personal interviews.
“Each pledge has their own book. This was a current pledge’s book. All of the information contained in the book was given by current brothers,” the alumnus said.
The source said the statements found in the book were disgusting and are not views held by the majority of the brothers in the fraternity. He added that not all brothers even knew those quotes exist.
“Basically, these several guys who gave those quotes in their interviews are the ones to blame,” he said.
Carson Shepherd, a junior studying political science and the director of student affairs in Student Government, said, as a woman, the comments found in the book made her feel very unsafe as a student at NC State.
“They sit in class with us, they ride the bus with us, we’re with them all the time,” Shepherd said. “They have these views on women and people of color that are really disproportionate to what a lot of people on campus think, because I truly do believe that we have a great community, but these people are kind of breaking it.”
Read the full letter from Pi Kappa Phi – Tau Chapter President Max Copeland.
NC State suspended its chapter of Alpha Tao Omega, which is currently under investigation by the university for allegations of drug use and distribution. The investigation began when a student reported sexual assault at party in the fraternity house.
