RICHMOND, Va. ―A University of Richmond fraternity has been suspended over what the school called a “grossly offensive” email that described a party as one that “makes fathers afraid to send their daughters away to school.”
The fraternity’s suspension comes as the school faces scrutiny over its handling of alleged sexual assaults after two female students wrote highly critical essays about the university last week on The Huffington Post.
The university has suspended operations, activities and events of Richmond’s Kappa Alpha chapter, pending an investigation into the email, which was sent to about 100 students, the school said in a statement. The fraternity’s national headquarters said in a statement that it has also suspended the chapter due to actions that are contrary to its value of “gentlemanly conduct.”
“The e-mail contained grossly offensive language and suggestions of behavior inconsistent with our policies concerning Greek life and with the caring nature of our campus community,” the university said.
The email, which was obtained by the school newspaper, The Collegian, was an invitation to the fraternity’s “lodge” for a party last Friday night. The writer of the email said he’s “looking forward to watching that lodge virginity be gobbled up for ya’ll (sic).”
“If you haven’t started drinking already, catch up,” the email read. “Tonight’ the type of night that makes fathers afraid to send their daughters away to school.”
University officials will meet with Greek leadership to discuss the suspension, the school’s statement said. Jesse Lyons, a spokesman for the National Administrative Office of the Kappa Alpha Order, said his office also will investigate.
