University of Maryland officials have concluded that a vulgar e-mail a student sent to members of his fraternity last year was hateful and reprehensible, but did not violate the schools policies and is protected by the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech.
University President Wallace D. Loh announced Wednesday the results of an investigation that involved campus and Prince Georges County police, as well as the universitys Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct.
At issue was a private e-mail sent in January 2014 by a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity that surfaced publicly in March this year. It contained a racist, sexist message indicating that the author wanted to have sex with women during fraternity rush week but didnt want people to invite women of certain races. The e-mail also contained a line using an expletive to indicate above all else to forget about consent.
Loh said the e-mail was profoundly hurtful to the entire university community. By mutual consent, he said the student responsible has left campus and will not return for the semester.
The student issued an apology through Lohs statement:
I apologize for the pain that I have caused you, the entire University of Maryland community, and many others who were offended by my words. ... For this, I am deeply sorry.
I regret sending that e-mail more than Ill ever be able to put into words, the student continued. I know there is no way to erase this incident or the agony it has caused, but ... I have learned an important life lesson, realizing there is no room for hate or prejudice of any kind in our community.
Loh said the student proposed to undergo training in diversity and cultural competence and to perform community service. I accepted these actions to hold him morally accountable, Loh said.
The student is no longer a member of the fraternity.
Nick Anderson covers higher education for The Washington Post. He has been a writer and editor at The Post since 2005.
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University of Maryland officials say hateful e-mail did not violate policy
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