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 The Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity said on Friday that
16 members face discipline for their behavior at the off-campus
party, held Sunday on the eve of a U.S. holiday marking the birthday
of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Pictures from the event circulated on social media websites showed
white students dressed in sports jerseys and hats and baggy
clothing, flashing street gang signs and drinking out of a
watermelon cup.
The fraternity denies the gathering was an official event and said
it was a party held at a member's personal residence that 30 people
attended.
On Thursday, the university revoked the charter status of the Tau
Kappa Epsilon and severed ties with the fraternity, which has about
125 local chapter members and has been affiliated with the school
for about 65 years.
On Friday, the fraternity's parent body said its ASU chapter would
be placed on a one-year probation and would issue a public apology
to the university and the community. It also offered to conduct a
cultural diversity program.
The fraternity said in its statement that it "strongly condemns and
sincerely apologizes for the actions of the few members involved in
this incident."
It was unclear what practical effect the chapter probation or
expulsion of individual members would have since the university had
stripped the fraternity of its charter. A university spokesman
declined comment on Friday on the fraternity's actions.
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Arizona State has said it was continuing to investigate the actions
of the students who attended the party to determine if they violated
the school's code of conduct.
Reverend Jarrett Maupin, a local civil rights leader, called the
school's decision to break with the fraternity a "watershed moment
for race relations at Arizona State University." He urged the school
to discipline students who were involved.
(Reporting by David Schwartz; editing by Steve Gorman and Lisa
Shumaker)
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