Students at Old Dominion University upset school officials this weekend when a fraternity hung banners reading “Freshman daughter drop off” and “Go ahead and drop off mom, too.” Both ODU’s administration and student government have spoken out against the signs, with the former releasing a statement reading in part, “Messages like the ones displayed yesterday by a few students on the balcony of their private residence are not and will not [be] tolerated. The moment University staff became aware of these banners, they worked to have them removed.”
The Student Government Association added:
“An incident occurred this weekend that does not reflect the University’s commitment to the prevention of Sexual Assault and Dating Violence. Not only do these actions taken by a few individuals undermine the countless efforts at Old Dominion University to prevent sexual assault, they are also unwelcoming, offensive, and unacceptable. Over the past year, our community, partners, faculty/staff, and student leaders have stood side-by-side to inform and educate our campus on Sexual Assault prevention. This issue is not new, rather, it is one that continues to be prevalent around the world. It is very important for all of us to take action and be part of the solution! These actions do not reflect the students’ views at [ODU]. We encourage YOU to continue to raise awareness, hold each other accountable, take care of one another, and be responsible citizens of the Monarch Community.” (Via)
Students told WTKR News Channel 3 that “Sigma Nu fraternity brothers… live in the home,” with Jezebel doubling down on the accusation. (They reached out to Sigma Nu’s National Director of Risk Reduction who said that while “four members of the ODU chapter live in the building where the banners were displayed,” they’re not to blame.) The banners originally went viral when ODU undergraduate Mary Coleman posted the image above on Facebook.
She e-mailed Jezebel, “As a woman, it’s frustrating to see the media bring awareness to the issue and then witness something related in your own community/school and see that nothing is changing.” Instead, Norfolk police officer Ryan Shepherd commented, “Gotta love ODU.”
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