Another Sigma Nu Chapter Suspended Over Offensive Remarks About Women

It's the second Sigma Nu chapter this month accused of saying horrible things about women.

The national headquarters for Sigma Nu suspended its fraternity chapter at Old Dominion University in Virginia on Monday as it looks into whether members were involved in displaying offensive banners about women.

Banners hung from a second floor balcony at a private off-campus house, spotted Friday, declared the home a "Freshman Daughter Drop Off" site, and said "Hope Your Baby Girl Is Ready For A Good Time...."

Sigma Nu's national headquarters initially said Sunday that none of its chapter's members were involved in displaying the banners. However, ODU Interfraternity Council President Michael Faust told The Huffington Post that several fraternity members were involved, and the national Sigma Nu staff said on Monday that they had received "additional information" about the incident.

In response, Sigma Nu placed the chapter on an interim suspension while it investigates the incident. The university's IFC plans to investigate as well.

"This was an embarrassing, unacceptable action that the general Greek community strongly denounces," Faust said. "The actions of these few fraternity members do not represent the values that they pledged to uphold. The Interfraternity Council's judicial board will review this incident."

The Huffington Post

"The Fraternity condemns the derogatory and demeaning language used on the banners," Sigma Nu's national headquarters said in a statement. "Such language has no place in our Fraternity or within any caring community, such as that of ODU. Any Fraternity member found to be responsible for this reprehensible display will be held accountable by the Fraternity."

ODU administrators and student leaders roundly criticized the banners over the weekend, largely through social media posts.

It's the second Sigma Nu chapter to come under scrutiny recently for offensive language regarding women. The University of Central Florida house was investigated this month after members were filmed shouting "Let's rape some bitches" and "We're gonna rape 'em." The school said the fraternity broke no rules in their behavior; however, one of the men heard shouting is a suspect in a criminal sexual assault investigation.

Tyler Kingkade covers higher education, including Greek life and sexual violence. You can contact him at tyler.kingkade@huffingtonpost.com or on Twitter: @tylerkingkade.

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