Penn State Students Rally Against Facebook Frat
Penn State students braved the snow Friday to rally in support of the women who were allegedly pictured nude and unconscious on a fraternity’s invitation-only websites.
Police are investigating allegations by a ex-member of Kappa Delta Rho that the frat ran two Facebook pages where members shared “photos of unsuspecting victims, drug sales and hazing.” A police warrant said some images were “of nude females that appeared to be passed out.”
More than 100 #PSU students and others turned out for today's demonstration against the KDR frat, accused of posting photos of nude women.
— Centre County Report (@CentreCountyRep) March 20, 2015
"Imagine the crowd we could gather if we had more time to organize and sunshine." Josie Phillips, Rally co-organizer.
— Meghan Garrity (@meg_garrity) March 20, 2015
Protesters carried signs that read, “Rape Culture Lives Here,” “Support the Victims” and “This Isn’t Satire” (an apparent reference to a frat member who told Philadelphia magazine that a Kappa Delta Rho Facebook page was satirical).
Student activists hold up signs calling for reform of Penn Stare's Greek system. pic.twitter.com/ATKENxly05
— Meghan Garrity (@meg_garrity) March 20, 2015
PSU students have a bold statement on sign at protest against the KDR fraternity incident. pic.twitter.com/oP1W2YYVz1
— Christopher Weddle (@csweddle) March 20, 2015
On Friday, the protesters called on university administrators to “take a stronger stance to protect and defend the Penn State community from those who would disrespect and destroy it.”
They made four specific demands in a letter to Penn State President Eric Barron. First, they said the members of the alleged Facebook pages should be suspended until police have completed their investigation. Afterward, they said, anyone “found to have participated both actively and passively in exploiting and endangering our fellow Penn Staters” should be expelled.
They also urged the university to scrutinize the entire fraternity system and cut ties with Penn State’s Kappa Delta Rho chapter completely.
Here’s the full letter:
20 March 2015
President Barron and University Administrators:
We march today to be clear that the Penn State community will not tolerate the exploitation and endangerment of ANY of its members.
We march today to be clear that the Penn State students victimized by Kappa Delta Rho deserve justice.
We march today to be clear that you, our leaders, must take a stronger stance to protect and defend the Penn State community from those who would disrespect and destroy it.
According to the Office of Student Conduct’s Procedural Guidelines for the University Discipline Process, “The University does not tolerate sexual misconduct or abuse, such as sexual assault, rape, or any other forms of nonconsensual sexual activity.”
In light of this unequivocal policy of zero tolerance, we speak out to advocate the following four responses:
(1) We insist that the Office of Student Conduct, in accordance with its guidelines, put all current students listed as members of KDR’s private Facebook group on Interim Suspension until criminal charges have been fully investigated.
(2) We demand that all responsible parties—those who are found to have participated both actively and passively in exploiting and endangering our fellow Penn Staters—be expelled from the University.
(3) We insist that the University sever all ties with Kappa Delta Rho’s local chapter immediately.
(4) Finally, we demand that, as “some members of the University senior leadership” have proposed, the entire fraternity system be reevaluated, scrutinized, and held to the highest community standards of civility, respect, and care.
President Barron, you said that you “pledge that everything within [y]our power will be done to hold those responsible accountable for their actions and to assist anyone who has been victimized by these shameful acts.” We are watching, and we are waiting for you to fulfill that pledge.
We are proud to be Penn Staters, and we are proud to stand together to defend our community’s values. It is now your turn to uphold those values and give us reason to be proud of your leadership today.
No Kappa Delta Rho members have been arrested yet in the case, but police said they could potentially face charges of invasion of privacy and harassment.
