All fraternities' social activities have been suspended at Syracuse University following reports of at least 10 racist incidents in recent weeks.
In a statement shared via the university website Sunday night, Chancellor Kent Syverud spoke on a student being subjected to "a verbal racial epithet" from a group of students and visitors.
"The location was on College Place. This report of an affront to our student's—and our whole community's—safety and well-being is the latest incident of several against Jews, Asians, and African Americans. I am deeply angered by these events, including this latest incident," Syverud said.
The individuals involved in that incident, the chancellor added, have been identified by way of eyewitness accounts and security footage and will be held accountable “to the Code of Student Conduct and to the full extent of the law.” Several involved parties are confirmed members and/or guests of a fraternity at the university, with that frat now having been suspended outright pending further investigation.
Additionally, the university has decided that—in an effort to ensure the safety of all students on campus—the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has been directed to suspend “all social activities of fraternities on this campus” for the rest of the semester.
"While only one fraternity may have been involved in this particular incident, given recent history, all fraternities must come together with the University community to reflect upon how to prevent recurrence of such seriously troubling behavior," Syverud said.
Independent student newspaper The Daily Orange published a timeline of the series of incidents this month, including approximate locations for each. Among the reported occurrences of racist or bias-related incidents are the use of slurs against black and Asian people, the drawing of a swastika in an apartment building where students live, and more.
In a statement shared over the weekend, a rep for the college's Interfraternity Council said that diversity training for frat members was set to take place in the coming weeks.
"There is no place of intolerance on our campus, and we will work with all proper authorities to ensure that this never happens again," the rep said.
The incidents inspired students to stage a sit-in earlier this month:
