University of Richmond frat suspended after 'grossly offensive' party invite

Ryland Hall at the University of Richmond
(Image credit: CC by: Jeff Weese/Flickr)

On Tuesday, the Kappa Alpha chapter at Virginia's University of Richmond was suspended by the university and the national fraternity after two Kappa Alpha members emailed some 100 students, including freshmen, promising an alcohol-fueled party of the type "that makes fathers afraid to send their daughters away to school. Let's get it." The Collegian campus newspaper published a copy of the email, titled "The wait is finally over," which disclosed the theme of the party, AmeriKA — "Roll through in your best red, white, and blue (or be naked for all I care...)" — and suggests, "If you haven’t started drinking already, catch up."

The University of Richmond, which The Collegian says is under a federal investigation for its handling of Title IX sex assault cases, said in a statement that "the email contained grossly offensive language and suggestions of behavior inconsistent with our policies concerning Greek life and with the caring nature of our campus community." The national Kappa Alpha fraternity asserted that "gentlemanly conduct is at the core of Kappa Alpha Order's values," and the email runs "contrary to those values and our Risk Management Policy." The university and national fraternity promised investigations.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.