MONTPELIER, Vt. — A University of Vermont fraternity has been suspended while school officials, national organization leaders and police investigate allegations that a survey was circulated among members asking them who they would like to rape.Members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter would not discuss the allegations Wednesday.
A student reported the questionnaire to school officials over the weekend, school officials said, leading both the university and the national Sigma Phi Epsilon organization to suspend the chapter temporarily. The school is investigating how widely the survey was circulated, and the campus police department is trying to determine if any crimes have been committed.
The survey question was "incredibly offensive and inappropriate," said Annie Stevens, the university's associate vice president for student and campus life.
University officials contacted the national fraternity, which said Wednesday that it has instructed the chapter to cease all operation, pending further investigation.