The two fraternity chapters remaining in Swarthmore College have announced their decision to disband amid protests over leaked incriminating documents. The leaked documents show former members of the fraternities engaging in misogynistic and racist behaviors between 2013 and 2016.
Immediately the redacted documents were published by campus publications. Scores of students at the Pennsylvania College stormed the Phi Psi fraternity house on campus and continued the protest for the school’s administration to dissolve the Phi Psi and Delta Upsilon fraternities till the early hours of Tuesday.
The materials which sparked the outrage were claimed to be received from anonymous sources and contain references to sexual assault of minors, hazing, racism and a “rape attic.”
In a Facebook post released by Swarthmore’s Delta Upsilon, the fraternity claimed their decision to disband is solely aimed at ensuring peace reign in the college community. They hope their former house will provide an inclusive, safe place which promotes healing.
In a similar post by the Swarthmore Phi Psi Fraternity, the chapter condemned racism, misogyny, sexual violence, discrimination, and homophobia and promised to work as individuals towards eradicating such vices. They hoped their decision to disband would help get justice and promote healing and closure for everyone who had been harmed by the documents and the acts described therein.
In a statement released by Valerie Smith, Swarthmore’s President, he claimed no evidence indicates current students of the college participated in the heinous activities described in the documents although an external investigator will conduct a formal review. He assured the entire college community that the college’s task force on student social events and community standards would research and make recommendations on improving campus culture and utilizing the fraternity houses.
