Syracuse Frat Suspended For Anti-Semitic And Racist Video

Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
(JTA) — Syracuse University has suspended a campus fraternity after a video surfaced of members using racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic and ableist slurs.
In the video, discovered by the Daily Orange, Syracuse’s student newspaper, a member of Theta Tau gets on his knees and repeats an oath with slurs against blacks, Hispanics and Jews, among others.
The school’s administration suspended the fraternity, whose members attend the engineering school, after confirming the video’s authenticity on Wednesday.
“I solemnly swear to always have hatred in my heart for n***|**s, spcs and most importantly the f*|in’ k*kes,” a member repeats, phrase by phrase, using slurs for black, Hispanic and Jewish people, respectively. Soon after he yells, “You f*|in’ kkes, get in the f***|in’ showers,” a reference to gas chambers during the Holocaust, as other members laugh and applaud.
The video also shows members simulating sexual acts and mocking gay people. Another video features more anti-gay language, as well as a slur against people with disabilities.
“I am appalled and shaken by this and deeply concerned for all members of our community,” Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud wrote in an email to students, according to the Daily Orange. He added that the school is committed to “fostering a community where all our students feel welcome and are treated with dignity and respect. This behavior is unacceptable and contradicts our moral standards.”
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.

