The national Sigma Nu office suspended its fraternity at Old Dominion University in Virginia over banners its members allegedly hung from the front porch of its building that welcomed freshmen females, and their mothers, with sexually suggestive messages.
The first banner read: “Rowday and fun. Hope your baby girl is ready for a good time,” Fox News reported.
The second one contained this text, above a large arrow pointing downward, toward the building entrance: “Freshman daughter drop off.”
And the third: “Go ahead and drop off mom too…”
The national office of Sigma Nu wasn’t amused.
“The Fraternity condemns the derogatory and demeaning language used on the banners,” said Brad Beacham, the executive director of Sigma Nu, in a statement. “Such language has no place in our Fraternity or within any caring community, such as that of ODU.”
Beacham also promised those responsible for the “reprehensible display” would be held accountable.
Images of the banners were posted to Facebook for a brief time. They’ve since been removed.
ODU President John Broderick said on Facebook he was “outraged” at the banners.
“I said at my State of the University address that there is zero tolerance on this campus for sexual assault and sexual harassment,” he wrote. “Any student found to have violated the code of conduct will be subject to disciplinary action.”
Broderick also said he spoke with one student about the banners, ostensibly an incoming freshman, and that particular student reportedly “thought seriously about going back home” after reading the “offensive message,” he said, Fox News reported.
