Phi Kappa Tau at the University of Maryland is under investigation after a noose was found in the basement of their fraternity house.
University of Maryland Police responded to the Phi Kappa Tau chapter house located on Fraternity Row on Thursday, April 27, around 11:30 PM for a reported hate/bias incident. According to the university’s police department, the noose was discovered earlier in the day around 1:40 P.M.
Police say the incident is under investigation.
Via Washington Post:
Fraternity leaders said they were horrified when they found the noose, and immediately reported it to a campus official.
“We are shocked and appalled,” said A.J. Coleman, the Beta Omicron chapter president. “The chapter’s reaction to this event has been confusion and outrage. For all of us, it is beyond the realm of belief that anyone could have perpetrated such a heinous act.” The group is working with police to help the investigation, according to a written statement from the fraternity.
The chief executive officer of the national chapter said in a written statement that “Phi Kappa Tau is committed to providing an environment free of discrimination for all our fraternity members, guests, employees and volunteers.” Tim Hudson also wrote, “These actions do not align with Phi Kappa Tau’s values and any association of intolerant behavior is not consistent with the operations of the Fraternity’s chapter at the University of Maryland.”
University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh released a statement on the matter:
“This incident is despicable. A thorough UMPD investigation is underway. I resolutely condemn the use of a symbol of violence and hatred for the purpose of intimidating members of our University of Maryland community. All of us–students, faculty, staff, alumni– stand united in our commitment to core values of human dignity, diversity, inclusiveness, and intellectual freedom. We stand against such craven expressions of bigotry.”
The incident comes just a couple of days after a racist incident at American University, where bananas hung by nooses were found around campus.
