The fraternity whose now former members are suspected of vandalizing a statue of James Meredith at the University of Mississippi announced yesterday that it is closing its chapter at the school. Officials at Sigma Phi?Epsilon’s national headquarters in Richmond, Virginia told chapter members via video conference that the chapter would be disbanded, but that members would be allowed to stay at the house and eat there through the end of the semester. According to fraternity CEO Brian Warren, an internal review of the Ole Miss chapter’s affairs revealed numerous violations of both fraternity and Ole Miss rules, including underage drinking, alcohol abuse and hazing. In a statement, Warren said that the vandalism of the Meredith statue did not directly lead to the decision to shutter the chapter. However, it triggered “an intensified period of review” that revealed “a determination to perpetuate an experience based on risky and unconstructive behavior.” Sigma Phi Epsilon?had suspended its Ole Miss chapter on February 21 after it was revealed that the three freshmen suspected of hanging a noose and Confederate flag around the statue of Meredith, the first black ?student admitted to the school, had been members of the fraternity. When their involvement came to light, the chapter voted them out in short order and turned over their identities to school officials. Federal and state investigations are still underway.
Darrell Lucus is a radical-lefty Jesus lover with several passions–the Lord, the Tar Heels, the Phillies and fighting for lasting change. Follow him on Twitter @DarrellLucus. edited by tw
