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MAY 1, 2001

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Monday officially suspended a fraternity following an incident involving the GRAMMY-winning hip-hop group The Roots that the administration is treating as racial.

After a weekend of talks between the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and members of the school's minority community, the administration yesterday said the suspension would continue indefinitely pending outcome of an investigation into the March 27 incident during which one fraternity brother allegedly yelled racial and gender slurs at a female member of The Roots while a second allegedly kicked a male group member in the head.

Both members, referred to only as "Brother #2" and "Brother #9" have been suspended by ATO, said fraternity spokespersons. Robert M. Randolph, MIT's Senior Associate Dean, said "discipline matters are confidential" and would not identify the students.

But since the fraternity has apologized and will hold racial and cultural sensitivity forums next fall, Randolph said the students' identities will eventually become obvious. Both face potential penalties including suspension and temporary withdrawal of academic degrees, he added.

MIT's swift action against ATO comes in complete contrast to a 1993 incident involving another fraternity located next door. Female African-American students reported hearing racial and gender slurs yelled from the windows of Phi Beta Epsilon as they walked past the house.

The administration never brought charges against PBE or its members although the school didn't dispute what the students heard. Associate Dean Ayida Mthembu, a key participant in the PBE case, yesterday acknowledged the difference in MIT's reaction and said the school was never satisfied with the outcome of the 1993 matter.

This time around, President Charles M. Vest quickly became involved. On Saturday, he sent out a campus-wide email calling the incident "ugly and totally inexcusable."

Yesterday he added that he has felt "angry" and "sad" for the past two days. But he said he was proud of the response of the student community.

The Roots were on MIT's campus Friday for the school's annual spring concert. Members of the group had befriended an ATO brother -- an Asian-American DJ on the concert bill identified as Ken Takase '01 -- and were invited to the fraternity house before the performance.

During this time, fraternity brothers were holding an unauthorized party with alcohol on its rooftop. A female member of The Roots apparently became incensed after statements were yelled from the roof, which fraternity spokespersons admitted included: "I love Black people," "That's my negro", and "Who's that angry Black [expletive deleted]?"

According to the fraternity, the female member entered their house and grabbed a large spoon, which she used to attack a brother with on the rooftop, causing welts. During an ensuing scuffle, the male group member of was held in at least two head-locks and subsequently kicked in the head by Brother #9.

Fraternity spokespersons said Brother #2, whom they identified as the speaker of racial remarks they called inappropriate, was of Chinese descent. Brother #9's ethnic origin was not revealed.

ATO has apologized to the MIT community and The Roots for the incident but said there was "no racial motivation whatsoever" for it. MIT has also apologized to the band, said Randolph, who contacted them while en route to another performance on Monday.

The fraternity has had several incidents with Campus Police involving underage drinking and yelling from the rooftop. The City of Cambridge may revoke the group's lodging license for liquor infractions.

ATO spokespersons pointed out that 27 of its 50 brothers are members of ethnic and racial minorities. Randolph also painted them as a model of diversity.

The Roots were unavailable for comment yesterday. Message boards on the group's web site speak about the incident in broad terms.

No members of the fraternity or The Roots reported injuries.

More on the incident:
Fraternity apologizes for racial remarks (MIT 4/30)
Text of ATO Apology (ATO 4/29)
MEMO ON THE ATO/ROOTS INCIDENT (MIT Undergraduate Association 4/29)

Relevant Links:
Alpha Tau Omega - http://ato.mit.edu
The Roots - http://www.okayplayer.com/theroots