Dear NC State Community,
As NC State continues to earn top rankings and broad recognition as a leading research university, our campus is also addressing some challenging and troubling issues. In particular, over the last few months issues around sexual assault, racism and sexism, along with the unacceptable behaviors we’ve seen associated with fraternities around the country, have hit home at NC State.
Our university has become part of the national discussions about these disturbing trends on college campuses. This is clearly not the type of recognition we want, but more so, not the type of behavior we will accept at our university.
In addressing these issues, I and other NC State leaders have made it clear that our university will absolutely not tolerate sexual assault, intolerance, substance abuse or other egregious misconduct. I hope today’s announcement about the disassociation of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity makes it clear that we take these issues, the impact they cause on campus, our words and our responses seriously.
Investigations of misconduct can take time as we ensure due process for everyone involved and that all aspects of a case are carefully considered. However, as today’s actions demonstrate, in cases where a violation or behavior counter to our values is determined to have occurred, NC State will take disciplinary action.
I know that the misconduct we’ve seen recently by a few in no way represents the strong character and values of our larger student body or the NC State community. You have my commitment, and the commitment of this administration, that we will work hard to ensure these outlying behaviors never become acceptable or tolerable at our university.
Along those lines, I have directed Vice Chancellor and Dean of Academic and Student Affairs Mike Mullen and his staff to work with the Intrafraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Pan-Hellenic Association and the Multicultural Greek Council to conduct a comprehensive review of Greek Life at NC State. The review will in part assess whether fraternities and sororities are meeting the core values espoused by the Greek community and the high behavioral expectations of the university.
I understand the vast majority of our Greek members and majority of organizations are committed to high standards of behavior, and we believe pairing university staff with student leadership in this process will help support these goals and achieve the best Greek system possible at NC State.
As a community, we at NC State must continue our efforts to enhance and celebrate diversity and inclusion. I hope many of you are already participating in Pan Afrikan Festival Week activities this week. If not, find out more information athttp://uab.ncsu.edu.
I encourage members of our community to participate in the several NC State activities in April as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Find out more information at http://oied.ncsu.edu/Womens-
Please also review the many resources available through the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity at http://oied.ncsu.edu. The site is a gateway to programs, trainings, educational and other opportunities to help foster an inclusive, accessible and diverse campus community.
I hope you will join me in continually working to ensure that our university always holds and promotes as core values diversity, inclusion and respect, and strives to maintain an environment where everyone feels safe and valued.
Sincerely,
Randy Woodson
Chancellor, NC State
