About 150 Syracuse University community members attended a forum in Dineen Hall on Friday afternoon to discuss students’ concerns after the release of the Theta Tau video.

Dozens of students and faculty members called on the College of Engineering and Computer Science to take action in response to the video. Some recalled experiences of racism and discrimination. Teresa Dahlberg, dean of the engineering school, attended the forum to answer students’ questions.

“This hateful rhetoric does not represent the values of this college,” Dahlberg said. A similar forum was held Thursday night in the Life Sciences Complex.

SU’s chapter of Theta Tau, a professional engineering fraternity, was suspended Wednesday morning after the university confirmed it was involved in the creation of online videos showing fraternity members engaging in behaviors that were “extremely racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist, and hostile to people with disabilities,” Chancellor Kent Syverud said in a campus-wide email Wednesday.

Nimish Sogani, who said he was a Theta Tau member and graduate student from India, told attendees that the racially insensitive remarks were made as part of a skit to tease a fraternity member. He said he hadn’t experienced racism during his six years in the fraternity.

“I apologize to the whole university, to the whole world,” Sogani said.

Several students said they believed the issue of discrimination at SU extends beyond Theta Tau and Greek life.

Ashlee Marie Mejia, a senior mechanical engineering student, said she always knew behavior such as Theta Tau’s existed on campus.

“When I saw the video … I cried,” she said. “It’s crazy that people think it’s a laughing matter. I don’t think it’s funny at all.”

Dan Lyon | Staff Photographer

In a statement, SU’s Theta Tau chapter said the video depicted a “satirical sketch” of an “uneducated, racist, homophobic, misogynist, sexist, ableist and intolerant person.”

Harrison Lee, a senior electrical engineering major, said at the forum that his boss told him to “go back to China” when he spoke Korean at work. His voice shaking, and on the verge of tears, Lee said “this needs to be properly taken care of.” The crowd applauded him.

“This is built into the culture of this institution,” said Charity Luster, a sophomore systems and information science major.

Faculty members were similarly concerned about the incident and said they had also seen or experienced racism.

“I love this university, and this video is not representative of the university or this college,” said Ed Bogucz, an associate professor in the department of aerospace and mechanical engineering. He said he has worked at the university since 1985.

Ben Akih-Kumgeh, an assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, said students have told him he only got his job because of affirmative action. Akih-Kumgeh is from Cameroon.

Cliff Davidson, director of the environmental engineering program, encouraged students who feel threatened to reach out to a faculty member they trust.

Rashid Powell, a senior chemical engineering major, said Dahlberg should release a timeline of actions that will be taken in the aftermath of the video. That timeline should be released before the fall semester, he said. Powell asked how Dahlberg would keep herself accountable if she doesn’t make the changes she promised.

Dahlberg said she couldn’t answer Powell’s questions because she intends to follow through with the diversity initiatives announced Thursday night. She encouraged students to reach out to her with suggestions and concerns.

The initiatives include diversity training for administrators and faculty in the college and implementation of diversity education in ECS 101, an introductory course usually taken by freshmen during their first semester.

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MORE COVERAGE:

• SU chapter of Theta Tau says video depicts a ‘satirical sketch’
• Syverud: SU will start ‘top to bottom’ review of all Greek life policies, activities and culture
• Student Association leaders call for SU Greek life audit in wake of Theta Tau suspension
• Students protest Theta Tau videos outside Chancellor Kent Syverud’s house

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Published on April 20, 2018 at 7:50 pm

Contact Casey: casey@dailyorange.com | @caseydarnell_