Boston University officials say a fraternity has been suspended for promoting a party before Christmas last year with "sexually suggestive, misogynist" materials.
The university's Dean of Students office says the decision was based on the Kappa Sigma fraternity chapter Mu Psi using Boston University's name in promoting the Dec. 10 event "University Blackout," which officials said implied the university was cosponsoring and that the university didn't approve.
The disclosure of the fraternity's suspension and reason behind it comes amid a year of national ongoing focus of sexual assaults on university and college campuses.
John Battaglino, BU's assistant dean of students, wrote in a letter to the fraternity president on Feb. 6 that the party was promoted with photos and videos online that used images of "a culture of abusive behavior" toward women. BU.edu says that the images showed naked women and women kissing open-mouthed.
Battaglino also says in the letter that so-called "blackout parties" appear to say it's okay to take advantage of drunk women.
The letter also told the fraternity chapter and its national leadership that it was time to "develop a method to reexamine your own behavior as members of an all-male organization within a culture of violence that often regards sexual assault as acceptable behavior or 'just sex.'"
The suspension means that Mu Psi may not recruit members, sponsor events or use Boston University rooms, BU.edu said. The fraternity can seek reconsideration of its status starting July 9, according to Battaglino's letter.
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The party, which was supposed to be held at Boston Royale nightclub, was eventually cancelled.
