Last October, the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Yale University hazed its pledges by having them chant “No means yes, and yes means anal!” while marching past female dorms on campus. Yale responded to the unsavory speech by slapping DKE with a five-year ban from all campus activities. In 2008, another frat at Yale, Zeta Psi, ordered its pledges to surround the Women’s Center with posters reading “We Love Yale Sluts.” These and other incidents spurred a group of Yale alums, who are predominantly female, to file a complaint against the university with the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights. Since April, the Education Department has been investigating the incidents to determine if they violate Title IX of the Civil Rights Act by creating a “hostile sexual environment.” If this is determined to be the case, Yale would have to seriously crack down on frat behavior, if not disavow it entirely, at risk of losing federal funding. Activists, feminists and campus administrators welcome the shunning of what they see as a male-dominated, irrelevant tradition. But not everyone agrees. Should college fraternities be banned altogether? Or should the focus be on offensive language and activities? Or is this an example of, admittedly boorish, but free speech that must be protected under the 1st Amendment? Where is the line between collegiate prank and offensive, hateful dialogue?
Education Department to college fraternities: “Party’s over, bro”
Library at Yale University.
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Education Department to college fraternities: “Party’s over, bro”
Last October, the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Yale University hazed its pledges by having them chant “No means yes, and yes means anal!” while marching past female dorms on campus. Yale responded to the unsavory speech by slapping DKE with a five-year ban from all campus activities. In 2008, another frat at Yale, Zeta Psi, ordered its pledges to surround the Women’s Center with posters reading “We Love Yale Sluts.” These and other incidents spurred a group of Yale alums, who are predominantly female, to file a complaint against the university with the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights. Since April, the Education Department has been investigating the incidents to determine if they violate Title IX of the Civil Rights Act by creating a “hostile sexual environment.” If this is determined to be the case, Yale would have to seriously crack down on frat behavior, if not disavow it entirely, at risk of losing federal funding. Activists, feminists and campus administrators welcome the shunning of what they see as a male-dominated, irrelevant tradition. But not everyone agrees. Should college fraternities be banned altogether? Or should the focus be on offensive language and activities? Or is this an example of, admittedly boorish, but free speech that must be protected under the 1st Amendment? Where is the line between collegiate prank and offensive, hateful dialogue?