A fraternity at North Carolina State University was suspended Thursday after a so-called “pledge book” containing disturbing statements about rape and lynching surfaced.
The suspension is the latest in a string of punishments for fraternity members’ alleged misconduct at various universities across the country — most notably at University of Oklahoma, where a video of a fraternity chapter’s racist chant went viral and sparked national outrage.
Local TV station WRAL reported a “pledge book” that appeared to belong to NC State’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi was found Thursday at a restaurant near campus. The book was filled with “racially and sexually charged language and derogatory comments about women and children,” according to the news outlet.
“It will be short and painful, just like when I rape you,” one comment read.
“If she’s hot enough, she doesn’t need a pulse,” another said.
“That tree is so perfect for lynching,” read a third.
Some of the comments in the book were signed. WRAL matched those names to a list of frat members listed on the chapter’s website.
The report noted that the list of names was scrubbed after a WRAL reporter dropped by the frat house, however. The fraternity chapter’s Facebook and Twitter feeds appear to have been scrubbed as well.
Pi Kappa Phi’s national organization said it decided to put the NC State chapter on interim suspension while it investigates the pledge book.
“The quotes in the book are reprehensible and unacceptable. We have sent staff to Raleigh to investigate the circumstances of the situation,” the national fraternity’s CEO, Mark E. Timmes, said in a statement. “These statements are inconsistent with the values of Pi Kappa Phi and will not be tolerated.”
