A Georgia Tech fraternity fight spills into the state Capitol

AJC ^

[outpostinmass2]

“Double-secret probation” has been brought to an end at Georgia Tech.

The Phi Delta Theta fraternity is no “Animal House.” And Tech President Bud Peterson is no Dean Wormer. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that arguments over frat-house behavior and student justice rarely spill over into the holy confines of the state Capitol.

But that’s what’s happening. And the fraternity may be winning.

Last August, an African-American woman lodged a complaint against Phi Delta Theta, alleging that members of the fraternity shouted racial slurs at her from the windows of their campus house. The fraternity denied that any such thing happened. It produced security video of the young woman walking by, unflinching. Windows from which the slurs were alleged to have been hurled had been sealed for years.

Even so, two months later, a Tech administrator in charge of student discipline placed the fraternity and its 100 or so members on “suspension in abeyance,” restricting its members to academic activities – no intramural sports, no socials — and requiring members to undergo sensitivity training as a condition for lifting the sanction.

No appeal was allowed, to either the Tech president or the state Board of Regents. “You want to talk about ‘safe space’? In the vernacular of campus discussion today, there’s no safe space for young men at Tech. You want to be safe? Go to class, then go run and hide in your dorm. That’s where we are at Tech right now,” said Ehrhart, who can be prone to operatic pronouncements.

[outpostinmass2]

”This is not a micro-aggression. This is a macro-aggressive environment when Earl Ehrhart is chairing the meeting. If you don’t like someone to disagree with you, little snowflake, and you’re going to melt in a fetal position on the floor of my committee room, you can go outside in the hall,” he said. “It’s a public building, but you can’t do it there when adults are having a conversation.”

[Rebelbase]

"Well, you can do whatever you want to us, but we're not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America."

[BenLurkin]

holy confines of the state Capitol?

I'm sure the people in Georgia are very nice -- but not even there could a state capitol be "holy"

[Gaffer]

The institute is known for caving on specious lawsuits. I’d not be surprised if there was a lawsuit filed by this woman. I also wouldn’t be surprise if her GPA was less than to be desired.

[DrJeff]

Windows from which the slurs were alleged to have been hurled had been sealed for years.

wow

[StoneWall Brigade]

Ping

[FamiliarFace]

***The fraternity denied that any such thing happened. It produced security video of the young woman walking by, unflinching.***

This too. I think the fraternity is right to push on this. They should at least be able to present this evidence.

[ChiefJayStrongbow]

Seems like that should be an honor code violation on her part and she should be expelled.

(Black) Honesty Matters.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

"Last August, an African-American woman lodged a complaint against Phi Delta Theta, alleging that members of the fraternity shouted racial slurs at her from the windows of their campus house. The fraternity denied that any such thing happened. It produced security video of the young woman walking by, unflinching. Windows from which the slurs were alleged to have been hurled had been sealed for years."

It seems like the frat should be filing a lawsuit against her for making false accusations. This "Cry Wolf" stuff has to be prosecuted with fervor as an example to others not to do this...stuff.

[csn vinnie]

It’s a worse than an honor code violation or crying wolf. It is libel, slander and defamation if untrue, and the facts seem to be all on the fraternity’s side here.

[dfwgator]

Even so, two months later, a Tech administrator in charge of student discipline placed the fraternity and its 100 or so members on suspension in abeyance,restricting its members to academic activities "no intramural sports, no socials" and requiring members to undergo sensitivity training as a condition for lifting the sanction.

What, no "Double Secret Probation"?

[stinkerpot65]

The totalitarian left brutally demands your subservience.

[Enterprise]

"Ehrhart is the same fellow who went after Delta Air Lines' scalp last year when CEO Richard Anderson used some unfortunate language while encouraging the Legislature to pass a tax increase to rebuild the state's roads and bridges. At Ehrhart's urging, Delta lost a 10-year-old sales tax break on aviation fuel, worth more than $20 million a year."

This is worthy of a huge Nelson "HA HA."

Delta's CEO urged the legislature to raise taxes. The legislature gave him his wish, and ended a 10 year tax break Delta got on aviation fuel worth more than 20 million dollars a year!

[Enterprise]

I hope there is a code of conduct that all students are expected to follow, and that honesty is mentioned in that code. Making a false accusation, and one that has caused a lot of misery for innocent people, should be plenty of cause for expulsion, criminal charges, and a huge civil lawsuit.

[Albion Wilde]

bump

[Albion Wilde]

holy confines of the state Capitol?

The word this writer was trying for should have been sacrosanct.