Syracuse University is suspending all fraternity activities for the rest of the semester after a string of racist incidents on campus.
Chancellor Kent Syverud notified students in an email Sunday morning. He said a racial slur was yelled at an African-American student Saturday night. Some of the individuals involved were members and guests of a campus fraternity.
"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 in a statement.
SU Head Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim spoke again on what was happening on campus. Boeheim stopped by the Barnes Center before Saturday's game to reinforce his support for the protesting students.
"That this can happen anywhere is among the worst of things. So we have to do everything we can as a community to stop that part of it, and then we have to address the issues of all students," Boeheim said.
The national office of the SU fraternity Alpha Chi Rho have also released a statement.
"We are disgusted by the language and harassing behavior alleged of a handful of our members and guests of our chapter at Syracuse University. The fraternity is working with the university to investigate and if confirmed will hold any members accountable," the statement read. "Such loathsome behavior is contrary to Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity principles that aim to cultivate men of word and deed based on character, honor, and integrity."
Linda Brown-Robinson, president of the NAACP in Syracuse, says education is a good start, since disciplinary action may not be enough to change someone's future actions.
"We just felt that we needed to support the kids, young people and some of them are probably adults in their endeavor," she said. "We're there for them. We're not taking sides on anybody, we're there on behalf of our people — whether we feel that they're right or wrong, but we only do it on the legal side. So as long as they stay within the legal bounds, then we will support them."
A university donor has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Members of SU's student section told students not to attend Saturday night's game, urging them to sit with protestors instead.
No suspects have been identified in the other campus incidents, including racist graffiti and a swastika being drawn in the snow. A generous university donor has offered a reward for information in those cases.
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