UVM Fraternity Closed Over Rape Survey

MONTPELIER, Vt. — A University of Vermont fraternity whose members are accused of circulating a survey that asked who they would like to rape has been closed indefinitely.

The national Sigma Phi Epsilon made the announcement Friday after an internal investigation and lengthy discussions with the university in Burlington.

"Without suggesting that every member had knowledge of this questionnaire, the questions asked in the document are deplorable and absolutely inconsistent with our values," said Brian Warren, executive director of the national fraternity organization based in Richmond, Va.

The national organization has said there's no indication the questionnaire was sanctioned by the fraternity or distributed to the more than 50 members of the Vermont chapter.

A student reported the questionnaire to university officials over the weekend, which led the school and the national organization to suspend the chapter temporarily, pending the investigation.

The school is investigating how widely the survey was circulated, and campus police are trying to determine if any crimes were committed.

The survey prompted a women's rights and equality group to organize a rally Thursday in Burlington, attended by more than 200 people, some calling for the fraternity to be shut down.

Members of the Vermont chapter would not comment Friday on its closing, and deferred questions to a national representative.

UVM Interim President John Bramley said Friday that national representatives of Sigma Phi Epsilon have been thorough, respectful and serious in their investigation. UVM's investigation will continue.

"We respect and support their decision, and appreciate their interest in maintaining a dialogue going forward to identify lessons learned from all of this, as well as exploring educational strategies and opportunities to address pervasive cultural issues that contributed to this egregious situation," Bramley said.

The national organization said it will work with the university in considering when a fraternity chapter might be revived.

Comments

[Joseph Schmoe]

07:48 AM on 12/22/2011

A fraternity acting stupid and sexist.
Why am I not at all surprised?

[anima mundi]

01:39 PM on 12/21/2011

My daughter is at UVM and is very good friends with the boys from this fraternity. She goes there regularly and they have never been anything but friendly and fun and gentlemanly. They are a very inclusive frat house... gay/straight/rich and poor kids all living together. From what my daughter has told me, the survey was a joke. I personally see this as beyond distasteful and very worrying, but it has led to some excellent conversations with my daughter and her friends... so why not use this as a learning tool, rather than just closing down the house indefinitely? I can't help but feel something positive could have come out of this if it had been handled differently.

[vtrob77]

02:32 PM on 12/21/2011

because the University and Fraternity are more about saving face and political posturing than any actual educational moment. And we live in a society that can't handle dark humor nor satirization of serious things. The survey is distasteful from an external perspective, but within their community it could easily have been understood as humor and also raising awareness of issues. Dark comedy has it's place.

[Di Gray]

08:01 PM on 12/21/2011

"From what my daughter has told me, the survey was a joke."

Unfortunately, there's no accounting for very poor decision-making. Fortunately, the fraternity now knows how NOT funny it was.

As for the frat being closed down, I understand it that this is not the first time this frat has gotten into some trouble. Obviously, constantly being slapped on the wrist has not worked. I think this latest decision will resonate and these "gentlemen" will be rethinking their decisions from now on.

[markopolio]

12:50 PM on 12/21/2011

Thanks for making the Greek system look good to the rest of the world guys... sigh

[ZimbaZumba]

06:03 PM on 12/20/2011

So this is seen by many as not funny in the slightest with joking about rape equated as being supportive of it.

Yet Lorena Bobbit jokes, laughing about the Catherine Becker case in the mainstream media and sites like IHateBalls.com are to be consider as "just a joke and get a sense of humor".

[lesh709]

10:32 PM on 12/19/2011

As a female college student, I believe this is so blown out of proportion. 9 times out of 10, it is the girls chasing the frat guys for sex, not the other way around. Yes, rape happens and it is absolutely dispicable. But I highly doubt guys joking about rape, jokes that fly all about campuses by both male AND female, is going to lead to someone actually getting raped.

[GOODDOC1]

12:53 AM on 12/20/2011

If that's the way girls at your college act, maybe you should request a transfer.

[sydneymoon]

05:38 AM on 12/20/2011

Perhaps lesh, but a poster who attended UVM stated earlier that this particular fraternity has some long standing violations regarding rules and conduct. This last episode may have been the last straw and the university came down hard to send a message. It is a suspension only.
I imagine many members of Sigma Phi Epsilon were unaware of the survey, but as with many situations it is often difficult to determine who exactly is to blame. Even the national director, Brian Warren, said:
"Without suggesting that every member had knowledge of this questionnaire, the questions asked in the document are deplorable and absolutely inconsistent with our values."
I think of the people whose names are on the list and how repulsed that their names are being so carelessly passed around. What if one of the people listed had actually been raped prior to this nonsense?
I recognize you see this survey as despicable and that you do not condone it, but because rape is bantered around with ease among some males and females doesn’t mean this fraternity shouldn’t be called on its actions.

[On My Way 58]

09:44 PM on 12/19/2011

Whether this was meant as a prank or a joke or something else, the bottom line is that it is disgusting behavior from young adults who are old enough to know better.

[fergiesmom2]

09:26 PM on 12/19/2011

Good.

[geddy lee is a god]

09:01 PM on 12/19/2011

Any girl who willingly dates or goes out with a Sigma Phi on this campus should have her head examined.

[dave y]

01:42 AM on 12/20/2011

You are something else! For starters, it's not Sigma Phi (that is a different fraternity), it is Sig Ep (or Sima Phi Epsilon). Oh hell, why am I wasting my energy on someone who would make such an all-inclusive, ignorant comment?

[geddy lee is a god]

09:25 AM on 12/20/2011

You must have energy to spare, you know, with you responding and all.

Looks like I struck a nerve:)

[vitacin]

08:49 PM on 12/19/2011

It's good to know that the university and the national chapter is taking a zero tolerance stance on this. These are young adults, while not the most mature group but certaintly with enough intelligence to know better.

[deusnonestsorry]

08:19 PM on 12/19/2011

They should serve in the army for a year or two. It'd grow them up, fast.

[markopolio]

12:52 PM on 12/21/2011

Because this kid of attitude is never seen in the armed forces

[deusnonestsorry]

07:55 PM on 12/21/2011

Are you suggesting our soldiers sit around making "who would you rape" lists?

[lamontstone]

07:22 PM on 12/19/2011

tyhe initial report is troubling but, i see no details, the questionaire, or if it was authorized by the frat. i can't pass judgement with the little knowledge gained from the news report. to make a list of girls most desirable for rape is digusting and shows a lack of a proper upbringing.

[rolse]

07:57 PM on 12/19/2011

Not to mention an intellectual capacity too low to be enrolled in college.

[lamontstone]

08:10 PM on 12/19/2011

ty roise i agree im thinking their momies and daddies sent them to college to get them out of the house. i wonder how many girls would rape those boys.

[spydrworks1067]

08:47 PM on 12/19/2011

And after all these are college students and we do not have all the details. Any malice depends on intention. I could see a positive meaning behind such a survey though should be well emphasized it is for study means rather than malicious intent, if in fact that's the case.

To find out who are the most vulnerable on a campus can in turn help prevent campus rape.

[lamontstone]

01:30 PM on 12/20/2011

ty spyd i agree on the intention factor. but the" girl i'd rather rape" survey conveys some sort of intent if only for humiliation or a big joke. it isnt laughable.

[mose joseph workman]

07:03 PM on 12/19/2011

there is no hope for the future of mankind. i give us another hundred years tops.

[dpc2224]

08:42 PM on 12/19/2011

Wow, America needs to lighten up.! ONE frat guy probably dreamed this up, and everyone else pays. It was bad judgement, but nobody was harmed. Unfortunately, most guys that age don't fully understand the implication of the word rape. It's just not on their radar. People in America seem like piranhas going for the kill. Another case of hitting a fly with a bazooka. .

[vitacin]

09:26 PM on 12/19/2011

They were suspended pending an investigation not terminated. That's not an over reaction.

[whoknew222]

09:35 PM on 12/19/2011

The fact that most guys that age don't fully understand the implications is troubling in and of itself. All college level kids/young adults have had "the talk" with their parents by now and if they haven't something is surely lacking there. Part of the talk must be self respect and accountability. The body is one's temple and needs to be treated as such, and repectfully so, by themselves and members of the opposite sex.
Circulating such a degrading survey perpetuates the notion that "boys will be boys" and such behavior is condoned. These boys are soon to be men who need to realise that in the real world sexual harassment is taken very, very seriously and any type of rape has zero tolerance.

[S321]

07:00 PM on 12/19/2011

A ridiculous decision to close the chapter..even temporarily. Notice that they are not even sure any laws were broken. They also didnt bother to identify who was responsible for the questionaire...they just tarred and feathered everyone in the chapter. And also let be very careful here...as insensitive as the apparent question was....its no more insensitive than many other things that college idiot kids do and say. The massive over reaction is yet another indication where liberals are too concerned over how things APPEAR than how they actually are. Did the president of the university try to figure out how many of his students are part of these "occupyidiots" protests? You know...where they actually BREAK THE LAW? No...instead they are getting their panties in a wad about a rather juvenile and stupid question on a survey....

[Guest125]

08:23 PM on 12/19/2011

No laws had to be broken. The fraternity agrees to and signs a contract about their conduct, etc. The University can yank their charter for any violation. This was probably a violation of morals or sexual harassment or any number of other violations.

[bklynsparrow]

08:47 PM on 12/19/2011

The fraternity purports to show young men how to behave in an honorable way. There are codes of conduct that members are supposed to adhere to. This isn't a juvenile and stupid question- it was on a Frat survey with a list of names. Rape is nothing to joke about and if a student in a university has not already gotten the idea that it isn't, then it's high time they learned. Did members of the chapter jump up and scream and yell over the survey. That would have gone a long way toward mitigating the stupidity of one member. But instead, they acted like sheeple.

[GeezersGirl]

06:51 PM on 12/19/2011

Tell me why we are assuming there were only girls on the list? Could this be why, this time, this disgusting survey has been brought to public attention?

[mywaters]

06:37 PM on 12/19/2011

What would you expect from Vermont--a state of mental midgets who fall every line tossed out by the spin doctors. Drink the kool aid... Thoroughly lacking in discernment.

Disgusting and sad event but certainly not surprising.