UGA fraternity suspended, placed under investigation after ‘racist’ video goes viral

The Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity on Friday suspended its chapter at the University of Georgia after a video surfaced of members using racist slurs and laughing about “beating black people.”  

The university has also opened an investigation regarding the students in the video, UGA spokesperson Greg Trevor said in a statement to The Hill.

The video featured the unidentified men using racist language and “engaging in behaviors that mock the suffering of enslaved peoples,” according to a statement from the university’s Student Government Association.

It appears to show a student using a belt to playfully hit another person laughing “I’m not black.”

“Whoa, you’re not saying the right word,” another person says in a joking tone.

Hey @universityofga ,

Here are a couple of TKE fraternity members laughing about beating black people and throwing around racial slurs. Do you think that this is ok? How about @TKE_Fraternity ? Is this what your fraternity stands for? https://t.co/afJiEn18Wu

— BlackAzizaNANsi (@Freeyourmindkid) March 22, 2019

The national Tau Kappa Epsilon organization issued a statement saying it was “disgusted, appalled and angered” by the remarks in the video.

“TKE does not condone or support any actions by its members that would be defined as racist, discriminatory, and or offensive.”

A TKE national organization memo obtained by The Hill states that the organization believes actions of members at the fraternity’s UGA chapter “may create an unsafe environment for the members, candidates, and/or guests of the chapter.”

The TKE chapter at UGA has been ordered to cease all operations immediately, including social events and activities.

The university, located in Athens, Ga., also condemned the video, saying that conduct deemed racist or discriminatory is referred to the Equal Opportunity Office.

The fraternity has been suspended by its national organization. Whenever we receive complaints of racist or discriminatory conduct, we refer such matters to our Equal Opportunity Office in accordance with applicable laws and policies.

— UGA (@universityofga) March 23, 2019

The Red and Black student newspaper reported that this is the second time in recent months that a UGA fraternity has been suspended.

Theta Chi had been placed under interim suspension as early as February for unspecified reasons.

Updated 12:10 p.m.