Texas Tech fraternity punished after posting troubling signs encouraging rape at party

The international Phi Delta Theta fraternity is taking actions against its Texas Tech University branch, which drew national attention for posting signs at a party that seemed to encourage rape.

Phi Delta Theta has placed the Texas Epsilon Chapter's charter in escrow and kicked out its leaders and members "who directly violated organizational policy," according to a post on the fraternity's website. The actions come after the fraternity investigated the "inappropriate signage" at the Sept. 19 party, which the post says was unsanctioned.

The Phi Delta Theta punishment concludes one of a string of controversies at Texas Greek organizations in recent weeks. Others include a Texas Tech sorority under investigation for allegedly throwing a racially insensitive "Border Patrol" party and a University of Texas at Austin fraternity that has been suspended for allegedly denying membership to a student because he is openly gay.

Members left in the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Texas Tech will have to take courses in sexual assault prevention -- and bring in a speaker to teach the entire Texas Tech Greek community about bystander behavior. The Tech chapter is also tasked with helping to provide sexual assault prevention education locally and throughout Phi Delta Theta.

The chapter must also dedicate more than 10,000 hours of community service to organizations dedicated to rape crisis and sexual assault prevention, the post said.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/local/education/campus-chronicles/article/Texas-Tech-fraternity-punished-after-posting-5806416.php