Maryland

University of Maryland, Fraternity Investigate Racist Email

A University of Maryland student and member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity is under investigation after an email he sent filled with racist and sexist language was shared with school authorities.

In a statement posted on the university's website Friday, President Wallace Loh said the email was sent in January 2014 but that the school only learned about it on Tuesday. Loh said the school's Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct is leading the investigation.

"The vulgar language in the email expresses views that are reprehensible to our campus community,'' Loh wrote. "We immediately met with the individual involved and a University investigation is underway.''

The content of the email references rush week, when students pledge fraternities and sororities. The email's author tells the six recipients to ban certain ethnic groups from the fraternity's parties using racial slurs and sexually aggressive language. At one point in the email, the author also denounces consent for sexual activity.

Kappa Sigma fraternity acknowledged in a statement posted on its website Friday that the student was an undergraduate and member of the University of Maryland chapter when he sent the email. The fraternity said it suspended the student after learning about the email and that he has since resigned. Kappa Sigma says the Maryland chapter is still working to formally expel him from the fraternity.

School officials' acknowledgement of the email came a day after officials at another University System of Maryland campus confirmed they had expelled two students for code-of-conduct violations. The discipline followed an investigation into sexual assault allegations at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

And earlier this week, two University of Oklahoma fraternity members were expelled from the school following the release of video footage showing them singing a racist chant.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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