Fraternity brothers at Syracuse University face suspension or expulsion after being linked to a second video showing inappropriate behavior, this time depicting the mock sexual assault of a person with disabilities.
The school said on Monday it had filed complaints against 18 students in connection with an investigation into the Theta Tau incident, alleging violations of the school’s code of conduct ― including behavior that threatens the mental health or safety of anyone or any group, disorderly conduct and harassment. The students were removed from classes while the investigation is underway. Syracuse did not respond to a request for clarification about whether all 18 students were members of Theta Tau.
The school permanently expelled the fraternity on Saturday after a first video was leaked, showing fraternity brothers reciting an oath to forever hate African Americans, Hispanics and Jews. Student newspaper The Daily Orange then obtained a second video of young men inside the Theta Tau fraternity house who appear to be forcing another person, seated in a chair and wearing a helmet, to mimic performing oral sex on three individuals.
“He’s drooling out of his mouth, because he’s retarded in a wheelchair,” one person can be heard saying.
Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud, in a statement, slammed the latest video for its “appalling and disgusting” display of “sexual assault, physical violence and grotesque hostility toward and mockery of people with physical, intellectual and other disabilities.”
Theta Tau apologized for the first video, saying in a statement that the film was a “satirical sketch” created to roast a fellow fraternity brother. “The new members roasted him by playing the part of a racist conservative character.”
This story has been updated to include a request for comment from Syracuse.