BU Suspends Frat For Sponsoring 'Blackout' Party
BOSTON (CBS) - Boston University has withdrawn recognition of a fraternity chapter that promoted a pre-Christmas "University Blackout" party that was not approved by the school and promoted sexually suggestive content, the school announced Wednesday.
In a February 6 letter penned by Assistant Dean of Students John Battaglino, the school announced the derecognition of Kappa Sigma. The decision was made largely due to the fraternity's unauthorized usage of BU's name to promote the event.
Kappa Sigma's chapter, Mu Psi, co-sponsored the party held Dec. 10 at Boston nightclub Royale.
Citing inappropriate images found on the event website, Battaglino said it promoted "a culture of abusive behavior that openly celebrates verbal sexual coercion, belittling women, grabbing, groping, forced kissing, and the badgering of women for sex."
"'Blackout parties' have become associated with a social sanctioning that it is okay to take advantage of intoxicated women," the letter added.
The fraternity's president wrote an apology letter to the university which the school acknowledged, saying that the group needs to "develop a method to reexamine (their) own behavior as members of an all-male organization within a culture of violence that often regards sexual assault as acceptable behavior or as 'just sex.'"
Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore said that when the university learned of the promotions before the event and contacted the fraternity, it removed the promotions and no brothers attended the party.
Derecognition means the frat will be unable to recruit new members, sponsor activities or use university facilities.
The frat may seek reconsideration starting July 9.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports:
