COLUMBIA, Mo. ― The University of Missouri temporarily suspended a fraternity on Wednesday over accusations of racial slurs directed toward black students, in the latest incident of racial tension that has roiled the campus for nearly a year.
The university action followed the national organization of Delta Upsilon fraternity, which suspended the chapter earlier on Wednesday.
The incident began late Tuesday night when a group of White students walked past two female members of the Legion of Black Collegians’ Activities Committee.
The legion said in a statement that one of the White students yelled a racial slur at the women, who then contacted other legion members. Police then arrived.
“It was at this moment, outside the Delta Upsilon Fraternity house, that while police were attempting to de-escalate the situation, members of the fraternity began recording the interaction, as well as shouting a variety of obscenities at the Committee,” the statement said. The legion said those obscenities included a racial slur.
Justin Kirk, executive director of Delta Upsilon International, said in a statement that the emergency suspension would be in effect while the incident is investigated.
“Racism and sexism have no place in our fraternity and we expect our members to be positive contributors to inclusive campus environments,” Kirk said.
