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This info was forwarded to me by a chapter Soror. Thought I would pass it on. OOOOP-ROO!
May 16, 2002
Auburn, fraternity settle lawsuit; Beta Theta Pi to remain on campus
AUBURN, Ala. -- A fraternity that was ordered off the Auburn
University campus because some of its members were photographed
wearing racially offensive costumes at a Halloween party will be
allowed to remain under the terms of the settlement of a lawsuit.
Beta Theta Pi fraternity agreed Wednesday to settle its $100 million
lawsuit against the university. The fraternity will not receive any
money but will be able to remain on campus, said Steve Becker,
administrative secretary for the Beta Theta Pi national organization
in Oxford, Ohio.
The university suspended 10 Beta Theta Pi members and withdrew its
recognition of the fraternity after members were photographed wearing
wigs and celebrating in black face. A judge later ordered the
students reinstated.
Romaine S. Scott III, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said Beta Theta
Pi members did not mean to offend anyone.
Becker said he hoped students had learned a lesson from the incident.
"The behavior that gave rise to this situation was unacceptable," he
said.
The university declined to discuss the settlement.
"The matter has been resolved by agreement," said David Boyd, an
Auburn University lawyer. "The parties will be submitting to the
court a written settlement document that reflects the terms of the
agreement."
Another fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, also was suspended from campus
because of racially offensive conduct at its Halloween party. That
fraternity was not involved in the lawsuit settled Wednesday.
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