Frat Suspected of Advertising Daughter Drop-Off Suspended By Nationals

As of August 24, the ODU chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity has been suspended by its national headquarters. The suspension will abide indefinitely as headquarters investigates the brothers’ responsibility in hanging banners from a private residence that invited parents to “drop off” their freshman girls for a sexy campus welcome.

Jezebel reached out to national headquarters on August 22 as the original photograph of the banners went viral on social media. At roughly 3:30 p.m. on August 24, we received the following statement from the fraternity’s Executive Director Brad Beacham:

“Sigma Nu Fraternity has suspended the activities of the Eta Chi Chapter at Old Dominion University pending completion of an investigation into offensive banners displayed from an off-campus, privately-owned property near the ODU campus last week. The Fraternity condemns the derogatory and demeaning language used on the banners. Such language has no place in our fraternity or within any caring community, such as ODU. Any Fraternity member found to be responsible for this reprehensible display will be held accountable by the Fraternity.”

The statement emphasizes that “initial reports regarding the banners indicated that no Fraternity member had involvement with the banners.” Now, however, “additional information received by the Fraternity” suggests that this may not be the case. Sigma Nu’s headquarters promises to “remain in close communication with ODU administrators throughout its investigation and review.”

When Jezebel began looking into the incident on August 22, Sigma Nu’s Instagram account included a photograph of the chapter outside the house displaying the banners last week. Since publishing our original report the account has been made private.