The national fraternity said it is communicating with the university and local chapter to “mitigate the harm” from the Student Union’s pamphlet.
Acacia Fraternity responded to rape allegations from the Ohio University Student Union in a statement Thursday, saying the fraternity is communicating with the university and local Acacia chapter to “mitigate the harm” from the allegations.
The OU Student Union previously accused the fraternity of being “notorious for drugging their free drinks and raping girls” in a pamphlet distributed to OU students Sunday.
The pamphlet also said the “Blue House,” a property on Court Street associated with the fraternity, should be avoided.
“Acacia Fraternity Headquarters is aware that there is a situation on the Ohio University campus in which an unrecognized student organization, calling themselves the ‘OU Student Union’ has circulated a pamphlet accusing the men of our chapter of disgusting behavior,” the statement from Acacia’s national organization reads.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="4f3c688c-4b4d-11e5-b196-9b75fed0d2c3"}}
The statement asserts there is no evidence suggesting fraternity members committed such crimes.
In November, the student group F--ckRapeCulture posted a petition on Change.org calling for Acacia to be banned from campus because of similar claims.
The university investigated claims against the fraternity that month, but the investigation did not lead to the organization being charged with or found in violation of any university policy, Martha Compton, director of Community Standards and Student Responsibilities, said in an email.
The Acacia International Fraternity also conducted an investigation and found no actionable evidence, according to the statement.
“Our fraternity has placed the issue of campus sexual assault at the forefront of our educational programming, to promote the safety and well-being of all students in the communities in which we exist,” the statement reads.
Patrick W. McGovern, executive director of Acacia, said the fraternity has no further comment at this time.
am095013@ohio.edu
@AlxMeyer
