Indiana University (IU) announced on Dec. 15 that the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity has been suspended after video footage emerged over the weekend of their members beating three Jewish students.
The video footage shows 11 men beating up the three Jewish students — all of whom are members of IU’s Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) chapter — in front of a house on the evening of Dec. 13. The students suffered concussions from the incident.
BREAKING – Three Jewish students at @IndianaUniv were beaten and called anti-Semitic slurs. pic.twitter.com/MHKIPUfBk5
— BDS Report (@BDSreport) December 15, 2019
The students were members of the Jewish fraternity @AEPi and reportedly received concussions from the assault. More details in this article: https://t.co/6exKfdpKHK
— BDS Report (@BDSreport) December 15, 2019
IU’s statement, which was posted to Twitter, said that the fraternity is suspended until law enforcement’s investigation into the matter has been completed. It also stated that the university is aware of allegations that anti-Semitic slurs were used during the fight.
“Indiana University condemns bias or violence in any form and will hold individuals and organizations accountable,” the statement read. “Diversity and inclusion are core values that we expect to be shared among IU students.”
Indiana University has released the following statement in regards to a recent incident involving an IU fraternity. pic.twitter.com/9587la4c8U
— IU Bloomington (@IUBloomington) December 16, 2019
Pi Kappa Phi Assistant Executive Director of Communication Victor Tran told the Indiana Daily Student newspaper that the fight started after Pi Kappa Phi members tried to remove a person who was not invited to a fraternity party and his friends. The fraternity conducted an investigation and determined that anti-Semitism didn’t play a role in the fight, he added, noting that the party was co-hosted with another Jewish fraternity on campus.
“Pi Kappa Phi values diversity and inclusion and does not condone violence,” Tran said.
Indiana Hillel wrote in a Dec. 15 Facebook post, “We have confidence that the University is deeply concerned and takes this investigation extremely seriously. As we await more information and the outcome of the investigation, we are always here to support all Jewish students on campus and to promote Jewish life on campus.”
