Florida State Fraternity Suspended For Slavery-Themed Hazing Accusations
Florida State University’s chapter of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity has been suspended after hazing accusations were brought up against them.
According to a report filed by a former member of the chapter, hazing practices were conducted in 2013 where pledges were forced to “act like slaves.” Another incident left them stranded over one hundred miles away from campus which is in Tallahassee, according to the New York Post.
The member who filed the report through FSU’s hazing website claims he was waiting until he graduated this past December to come out about the incident. He says the slavery-related antics were part of a drinking game called “Old South.”
Unfortunately, too much time has passed to file formal charges against the chapter, however chapter members could still face discipline related to the Student Code of Conduct.
The incident was first reported on Feb. 3 and the chapter was immediately suspended by Dean of Students Victoria Dobiyanski, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. TKE was allowed to conduct one final meeting where problematic members that “do not meet the standards of Tau Kappa Epsilon” were expelled from the chapter.
“The actions reported to the university by a recent FSU graduate were abhorrent and not indicative of our student body,” said FSU president John Thrasher in a prepared statement. “Florida State University has worked diligently throughout its history to be an academic environment that values diversity and respects every student. The actions taken by Student Affairs were strong and swift. Racist behavior demeans every one of us and we will not permit it to represent this university.”
The allegations against TKE come only a week after FSU’s chapter of Omega Psi Phi was on the receiving end of disciplinary actions after it was accused of unspecified hazing.
Hazing allegations are always damaging for both the organizations and universities involved and give a peak into some of the darker aspects that sometimes occur on college campuses. But when racism is involved it shows an even deeper issue than the already serious one that needs to be addressed.
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