Yale: DKE Apologizes for Pledge Chant Incident

[ree-Xi]

I saw this on Youtube I think overnight Wednesday. I was wondering if anyone was going to post about it. It's been all over the news here locally.

Obviously, school-smart people don't always have common sense. It's sad.

PS I was reading that "fratty" website posted the other, where people were posting about stuff being "the frat life" or some similar phrase, lauding spending trust funds indiscriminately, calling other people poor/northern/democrats/not fratty, bragging about their "sororstitutes" making them sandwiches after she does their homework and gives them a BJ, and all other sorts of nonsense. The Yale issue is just as disgusting as that site. Yuck.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

I saw this on Youtube I think overnight Wednesday. I was wondering if anyone was going to post about it. It's been all over the news here locally.

Obviously, school-smart people don't always have common sense. It's sad.

PS I was reading that "fratty" website posted the other, where people were posting about stuff being "the frat life" or some similar phrase, lauding spending trust funds indiscriminately, calling other people poor/northern/democrats/not fratty, bragging about their "sororstitutes" making them sandwiches after she does their homework and gives them a BJ, and all other sorts of nonsense. The Yale issue is just as disgusting as that site. Yuck.

It shouldn't take common sense. Not being assholes actually takes less effort than being assholes. Laziness should cover it. Instead they actively CHOSE assholery of the misogynistic, rape-apologetic variety.

[Lafayette79]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

I saw this on Youtube I think overnight Wednesday. I was wondering if anyone was going to post about it. It's been all over the news here locally.

I saw it too, although my graduation year, '79 dates me, I know of no house that I was familiar with in my era, who would do anything like this. Generally, all the houses thought that 'The Best thing on Earth' was a Sorority Girl, and by extension, all college women who, in our eyes, were potential rushees. In retrospect, my brothers still believe this. This is not to say, that there were not jerks, especially when there were too many drinks, but our intention was to make contact with Sorority Girls, not to scare them away.

[Senusret I]

^^ That is why Yale>

[exlurker]

Edited to add Oct 20: Update: New statement by Yale's president (and the dean of the College)) , as reported in the student paper:

http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/20...-dke-incident/

~end of edit~

From DKE HQ web site:

http://www.dke.org/

Statement from Board of Directors Regarding Incident at Yale

Delta Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity Board of Directors strongly condemns the actions taken by some members of our Yale Chapter last week. The sentiments expressed during the new member activity are deeply offensive, and do not adhere to the standards of morals and behavior that we expect of all DKE members.**DKE has instructed the Yale Chapter to discontinue all new member activities until further notice.*
*
The chapter’s decision to participate in an open forum on campus last Friday was a good step in acknowledging the seriousness of this incident, and we believe the chapter members have become aware that their behavior is wrong not only because of the effect it can have on other people, but also because they as individuals should not hold or express these sentiments in any respect or manner.
*
Our Executive Director will be visiting with the chapter next weekend to review this incident and set forth a plan of action for the chapter.*


See also the Yalie Daily's coverage in its Oct. 18 online issue

http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/20...e-reprimanded/

[exlurker]

Yale asks DKE to keep DKE on probation; see the following
letter to campus, from Yale dean Miller:

Oct 25, 2010 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) --
On the evening of October 13, 2010, a group of Delta Kappa Epsilon ("DKE") fraternity pledges shouted offensive words across the Yale campus. They were captured on video on the Old Campus, in a blindfolded rant of sexual aggression.

Last week, President Levin and I denounced their words and called on the fraternity to chart a different course for its future (http://www.dailybulletin.yale.edu/article.aspx?id=7915 ). Today I met with the national executive director of DKE, Mr. Douglas Lanpher, and I have asked him to keep the organization on probation indefinitely, as that new course and program take shape, not only this year, but beyond. Although DKE is not a registered Yale undergraduate organization, I have acted on behalf of the Yale community in urging Mr. Lanpher to take this action.

Where do we go next? How do we move forward to repair the damage inflicted on our community? How do we prevent sexual violence on campus? Last week, Dean Marichal Gentry requested that the Executive Committee of Yale College

investigate the full course of events that evening, in order that questions of hazing, threat, and intimidation all be evaluated. That process, unlike the 24 hour news cycle, is not instantaneous. But while that process unfolds what do we learn from this event?

To start with, the Yale College Dean's Office, the Inter-cultural Affairs Council, and the Yale College Council will host a panel on Tuesday evening, 8-9:30 p.m., in Sudler Hall, titled Deconstructing the "DKE Incident": How, Why, and What Next? Among the faculty who will speak are Professors Richard Bribiescas and Inderpal Grewal, chairs of Anthropology and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. We hope that you will attend, and we hope that you will bring your questions and comments to the panel.

Second, I write to bring to your attention the events that the Women's Center has scheduled as part of Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Week. Because one in three teens will experience some kind of abuse from an intimate partner, this educational program is particularly important for undergraduate men and women. A list of the scheduled events themselves follows at the end of this email.

Third, as a community we need to look more deeply into the culture of initiations of new members of undergraduate organizations of all kinds. To that end, I've asked Judith Krauss, Master of Silliman College and Chair of the Faculty Committee on Athletics, to chair a committee that will look into such practices across organizations, from musical groups to athletic teams, and including those that are not registered organizations. This committee will be comprised of students, faculty, coaches, and staff, and will conduct its work in the spring term this year.

Fourth, I will also appoint a short-term task force to evaluate the many recommendations I have received in the past ten days regarding sexual violence on campus. I will ask this group to explore training practices, along with the feasibility of reaching those students whose behavior and words may abet sexual violence, among peer educators and Yale Health Services educators.

Finally, on a related matter: the Report from the Sexual Misconduct Committee, appointed by the Provost and chaired by Professor Michael Della Rocca report, is now available to the Yale community at http://provost.yale.edu/news-announc...duct-committee. The report endorses a new, consistent, and more transparent process for dealing with sexual misconduct across the University. I applaud the changes proposed, and I believe they will benefit our entire community. I urge you to read the report, as well as the Yale Daily News's article about it published last week.

The outcry and calls to action over the past ten days attest to the core values of the Yale community: dignity, personal and community responsibility, and trust. We must use this incident to educate, to listen and learn, and to grow in respect for one another.
Yours truly,
Mary Miller . . . .

See also the following article in the Yale student paper:

http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/20...-dke-director/

[FSUZeta]

Today, at least 150 students, largely from the Women's Center and DKE met together, a landmark meeting to begin a dialogue that we hope leads to mutual respect. After a public session, the students met in small groups with dialogue facilitators. Thus begins a long process.

ooooh...a dialogue, with dialogue facilitators. that's rough!

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

Today, at least 150 students, largely from the Women's Center and DKE met together, a landmark meeting to begin a dialogue that we hope leads to mutual respect. After a public session, the students met in small groups with dialogue facilitators. Thus begins a long process.

ooooh...a dialogue, with dialogue facilitators. that's rough!

God, that's just miserable.