Repercussions for a Friday incident involving the use of a racial slur in front of the Delta Tau Delta house will remain private, according to University officials and the national leadership of Delta Tau Delta international fraternity.
Jim Russell, executive vice president of Delta Tau Delta, said the organization does not discuss disciplinary actions publicly.
“It’s an ongoing investigation,” he said. “Once it’s concluded, the appropriate steps will be taken at that time. The investigation remains open and I do not have a time frame for when it will be concluded.”
On Monday the organization’s national president apologized personally to Justin Zimmerman, the black student who the slur was targeted toward, according to a press release issued by Delta Tau Delta.
“Delta Tau Delta does not condone, support or tolerate such conduct,” Russell said in the release. “We believe this was the act of one member. His behavior is not representative of the Alabama chapter or the national fraternity. It is out of alignment with the stated values of Delta Tau Delta.”
Sean Keeler, president of the Delta Eta Chapter on the University’s campus, said his chapter will fully comply with the national office’s investigation.
Deborah Lane, director of University Relations, said the University would not discuss disciplinary action taken due to privacy issues.
“Depending on the situation, verbal harassment/abuse could be handled with a disciplinary warning, probation or suspension,” Lane said in an e-mailed statement. “Due to student privacy concerns, the University is unable to comment on any particular student’s disciplinary proceeding.”
Lane said the fraternity itself does not have a history of racial incidents.
“DTD has not been reprimanded by UA for any racial incidents in the past five years,” she said.
A statement released Monday by the Black Faculty and Staff Association called for swift disciplinary action against the individual who used the term.
Joyce Stallworth, senior associate dean in the College of Education and president of the Black Faculty and Staff Association, said the individual involved should be suspended for 12 weeks.
That suspension should involve programs to increase awareness of different cultures, including researching different cultures and studying the history of racial slurs, she said.
The BFSA statement also called for increased diversity training for students.
“The Association once again urges University leaders to design and institutionalize diversity training and educational programming for our student body which would demonstrate the University’s commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming campus culture,” the release stated.
“Now is the time for the University to make unmistakably clear to its students (both current and prospective), its alumni (as are many of us), and to the world that these types of racial epithets or other disrespectful epithets will not be tolerated at the Capstone.”
Nancy Hogan, president of the Black Student Union, disagreed with the Stallworth’s call for tough disciplinary action.
“I think the least appropriate way to go about it is to make the repercussions punitive,” she said. “Even though the act is obviously not something that is looked upon in a positive light, you don’t want to go around punishing students. You want to look at a preventative measure.”
Hogan said institutions currently on campus, such as the Crossroads Community Center, already help with cultural sensitivity on campus.
“I feel like we may just need to start highlighting those positive features more so that people know exactly know where to go, so that we don’t need to have discussions like this in the future,” she said.
Lane said the University has many organizations that encourage cultural sensitivity, including Crossroads, the Greek Leadership Summit and the Diversity Lecture Series.
“The University has invested significant resources in a variety of programs designed to ensure that we have a welcoming and inclusive campus,” she said.
Victor Luckerson, Will Tucker and Katherine Martin contributed to this report.
