Sigma Nu frat suspended at Old Dominion following outrage over 'daughter dropoff' 'Mom too' banners

[TexasTowelie]

Weeks after a sorority at the University of Alabama sparked a national debate for a "rush week" promo video that was more about bikinis and glitter than books and grades, a national fraternity at another university has suspended a local chapter following another "welcome week" scandal.

The Sigma Nu fraternity has suspended all activities for brothers at its Old Dominion University chapter, the AP reports, after the school's administration and many students were outraged by three sexually suggestive banners, intended for entering freshman women, that were displayed in Norfolk, Va. School spokesman Jonathan P. Cawley said in a statement Monday night that the signs were hung from a private off-campus residence.

The banners – which read "Rowdy And Fun! Hope your baby girl is ready for a good time ... ," "Freshman daughter drop off" and "Go ahead and drop off mom too ... " – were hung last week as new students arrived to campus, but have since been removed. However, a photo of the banners quickly made the rounds on social media, causing outrage with some saying the message promoted "rape culture" at the university.

While the initial photographer did not identify the exact house, Jezebel reports that several members of the Sigma Nu fraternity lived at the house. A seemingly identical house also appears as the header on the chapter's Twitter profile.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/education/article/Old-Dominion-freshman-daughter-drop-off-frat-6462124.php

[tularetom]

1. Double secret probation?

[TexasTowelie]

2. Two comments:

1) They spelled every word on the signs correctly.

2) Is this an infringement on their rights of free speech since it is a private residence off-campus, so I have to wonder what could have been done if something similar happened at the home where a group of young men lived (particularly if they weren't students).

FWIW, I deplore sexual abuse and rape but there is a significant difference between hanging a suggestive sign and committing a crime, particularly since the signs are somewhat ambiguous. The signs were probably meant to be humorous, but the humor backfired and they came off as tacky and ill-conceived.

[pnwmom]

3. The fraternity is free to uphold some standards, whether the members break laws or not.

This isn't just a random group of students.

[TexasTowelie]

4. I agree that the fraternity is free to uphold standards

and discipline those members (or even an entire chapter) if they believe that the members violated the code of conduct for the fraternity.

The question that I have is whether the actions were from a few individuals within the chapter or if those signs were condoned by the chapter leadership also. With the national organization suspending the chapter it would make sense for Old Dominion to also suspend that chapter. If it were the rogue actions of a few, then the national organization and the university should discipline responsible individuals rather than the entire group. I've never been much for "guilt by association" accusations.

[Orrex]

6. I'm shocked that a frat would comport itself in a less than welcoming manner

Shocked, I tell you.