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Alpha Epsilon Pi is investigating the University of Chicago chapter of the Jewish fraternity for sending emails containing derogatory references toward black people, women and Muslims.
"We are going to work with the individuals in the chapter to educate them about the harm that such speech and thinking can bring to others," Jonathan Pierce, the international fraternity's spokesman and former president, said. "It is important to note, though, that many of these private emails are from some time ago and the chapter has worked to eradicate this type of behavior and speech."
The email chain, obtained by BuzzFeed News, contains messages sent between 2011 and 2015. The string of emails features frequent use of racist terms for black people, a warning to members to not to have sex with "fatties" and an invitation to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day at a fried chicken restaurant. In the emails, members of the off-campus fraternity refer to a Muslim member of the student government as a "terrorist" and to an empty, weed-filled lot located near the chapter as "Palestine."
"The language used in these emails is offensive, and it is not consistent with the university's values or our strong commitment to ensuring that people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives can thrive on our campus," Michele Rasmussen, the university's dean of students, said in a statement. Fraternities and sororities are not officially recognized student organizations at the University of Chicago.
The fraternity is one of several in the last year to come under fire after racist and sexist messages shared between members have surfaced online.
