NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 25 (UPI) — The Sigma Nu fraternity at Old Dominion University (ODU) was suspended after its members hung offensive signs implicitly offering sex with new freshman arrivals.
The signs read “Rowdy and fun/Hope your baby girl is ready for a good time,” “Freshman daughter drop off” and “Go ahead and drop off mom too.” The signs adorned an off-campus house on Saturday, where some Sigma Nu members live.
ODU’s administration chastised the messages, saying such displays will not be tolerated.
ODU’s Student Government Association did the same, filming a video where they said that the display does not reflect ODU’s commitment to preventing sexual assault and that the banners were “unwelcoming, offensive, and unacceptable.”
Despite additional outrage by the the university’s President John Broderick, no link was initially established between the signs and the Sigma Nu fraternity. In a statement, the fraternity said it was investigating the incident but that no fraternity members were involved. A man who lives at the house denied allegations that the signs were displayed there, despite spray paint being visible on the house walls in spots where it presumably bled through the signs. He said the signs were made at his house but displayed elsewhere, despite his house bearing a similarity to that displayed on images of the signs.
The fraternity was suspended as of Monday as announced by Brad Beacham, the executive director of Sigma Nu’s national headquarters. Beacham added that any fraternity members who may have been involved with the banners will be held accountable.
Twitter responses to an image of the banners ranged from outrage to comedy. Twitter handle @SarxTweets wrote “It’s not ‘rape culture’ to seek the company of fellow students” while Heather Archuletta (@Pillownaut) wrote “Please let this be satire. *rubs eyes* Nope. Still on earth, smack in the middle of condoned woman-hating culture.”
