University of Oklahoma fraternity closed after racist video leaks

University of Oklahoma's SAE chapter has been terminated, for now
(Image credit: Unheard/YouTube)

Sunday evening, University of Oklahoma student newspaper The Oklahoma Daily posted a video of Sigma Alpha Epsilon members, dressed in formal attire and riding a bus, chanting about how "there will never be a n—er in SAE," and including an apparent reference to lynching.

The video was uploaded to YouTube on Sunday by Unheard, a black group on campus, who said that even "50 years after the events that occurred in Selma, Alabama, we still have a reason to march," adding that the language in the chant was "offensive, disrespectful, and unacceptable." SAE's national chapter agreed. Here's SAE national president Brad Cohen on Sunday night:

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Dealing with the UO chapter meant shutting it down and suspending all its members. After an emergency board meeting, Cohen said in a statement, "we determined with no mental reservation whatsoever that this chapter needed to be closed immediately." If they hadn't, University of Oklahoma probably would have. "If UO students are involved, this behavior will not be tolerated and will be addressed very quickly," university President David Boren said in a statement. "If the reports are true the chapter will no longer remain on campus."

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Peter Weber

Peter Weber is a senior editor at TheWeek.com, and has handled the editorial night shift since the website launched in 2008. A graduate of Northwestern University, Peter has worked at Facts on File and The New York Times Magazine. He speaks Spanish and Italian and plays bass and rhythm cello in an Austin rock band. Follow him on Twitter.