Fraternity members at Old Dominion University face punishment over banners that many considered a welcome week joke, but were denounced as offensive and against the university’s sexual assault and harassment policy.
Several members of Sigma Nu fraternity at ODU hung banners outside their off-campus residence, reading “Freshman daughter drop off” with an arrow pointing to the front door, as well as ones that said “Go ahead and drop off mom too,” and “Rowdy and fun, hope your baby girl is ready for a good time.”
The banners were hung this past weekend when new students and parents were arriving to the Norfolk, Virginia campus.
The photos quickly spread around on social media and were picked up by the Huffington Post. University officials contacted the students and the banners were soon taken down.
ODU President John Broderick sent a letter to the campus community on Saturday that said he was “outraged about the offensive message directed towards women,” and said that the students involved will be punished accordingly.
“While we constantly educate students, faculty and staff about sexual assault and sexual harassment, this incident confirms our collective efforts are still failing to register with some,” Broderick wrote.
“I said at my State of the University address that there is zero tolerance on this campus for sexual assault and sexual harassment. This incident will be reviewed immediately by those on campus empowered to do so. Any student found to have violated the code of conduct will be subject to disciplinary action.”
The university’s Student Government Association also condemned the banners as “unwelcoming, offensive and unacceptable” in their own statement.
Sigma Nu’s national organization has suspended the ODU chapter pending an investigation into the accused students.
A very similar incident was documented at Ohio State University move-in day, where several students hung banners on their off-campus house saying, “Dads, we’ll take it from here,” and “Daughter day care 2.0.”
“Our motives were not to insult or look down on anyone, not to be sexist,” Justin Miller, an OSU senior told WCMH News. “Our motive is just to have fun, it is college.”
