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| Swarthmore Fraternities Disband After Uproar Over ‘Rape Attic’ Documents | Swarthmore Fraternities Disband After Uproar Over ‘Rape Attic’ Documents |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The two fraternities at Swarthmore College, the elite liberal arts school in Pennsylvania, announced Tuesday that they would voluntarily disband, following the release of more than 100 pages of internal documents in which members of Phi Psi discussed sexual misconduct and referenced a “rape attic.” | The two fraternities at Swarthmore College, the elite liberal arts school in Pennsylvania, announced Tuesday that they would voluntarily disband, following the release of more than 100 pages of internal documents in which members of Phi Psi discussed sexual misconduct and referenced a “rape attic.” |
| The release of the documents prompted dozens of Swarthmore students to storm the Phi Psi house in protest on Saturday. They had been camped in and around the house in the days since, demanding the dissolution of Phi Psi and the school’s other fraternity, Delta Upsilon. | The release of the documents prompted dozens of Swarthmore students to storm the Phi Psi house in protest on Saturday. They had been camped in and around the house in the days since, demanding the dissolution of Phi Psi and the school’s other fraternity, Delta Upsilon. |
| In a message, the school’s president, Valerie Smith, said both fraternities had “decided to disband and relinquish their houses.” | In a message, the school’s president, Valerie Smith, said both fraternities had “decided to disband and relinquish their houses.” |
| The Swarthmore documents, published by The Phoenix and Voices, both student-run publications, read like a series of fraternity meeting minutes. In them, the authors discuss acquiring date-rape drugs and brag about sexual encounters with underage girls, among other topics. The release of the documents and the subsequent sit-in forced the small school to the center of a larger debate about sexual assault on campus. | The Swarthmore documents, published by The Phoenix and Voices, both student-run publications, read like a series of fraternity meeting minutes. In them, the authors discuss acquiring date-rape drugs and brag about sexual encounters with underage girls, among other topics. The release of the documents and the subsequent sit-in forced the small school to the center of a larger debate about sexual assault on campus. |
| In a message posted on Facebook, members of Phi Psi wrote that they voted unanimously to dissolve their fraternity after a week of deliberation. | In a message posted on Facebook, members of Phi Psi wrote that they voted unanimously to dissolve their fraternity after a week of deliberation. |
| “We were appalled and disgusted by the content of these minutes,” they wrote, “which led us to question our affiliation with an organization whose former members could write such heinous statements. We cannot in good conscience be members of an organization with such a painful history.” | “We were appalled and disgusted by the content of these minutes,” they wrote, “which led us to question our affiliation with an organization whose former members could write such heinous statements. We cannot in good conscience be members of an organization with such a painful history.” |
| The documents seem to chronicle activity mostly in 2013, before current Phi Psi members entered college, with what appear to be some earlier and later entries. | The documents seem to chronicle activity mostly in 2013, before current Phi Psi members entered college, with what appear to be some earlier and later entries. |
| “Since the start of our membership, we made it our mission to improve the culture and perception of Phi Psi,” they said. “Unfortunately, the wounds are too deep to repair.” | “Since the start of our membership, we made it our mission to improve the culture and perception of Phi Psi,” they said. “Unfortunately, the wounds are too deep to repair.” |
| Members of Delta Upsilon published a similar message. “Delta Upsilon has listened to the concerns and feelings of the campus community,” they wrote. “We hope that our former house will provide a space that is inclusive, safe, and promotes healing.” | Members of Delta Upsilon published a similar message. “Delta Upsilon has listened to the concerns and feelings of the campus community,” they wrote. “We hope that our former house will provide a space that is inclusive, safe, and promotes healing.” |
| Protesters have argued that the documents, though dated, were indicative of a dangerous fraternity culture that continues to exist. | Protesters have argued that the documents, though dated, were indicative of a dangerous fraternity culture that continues to exist. |
| After the announcements, protesters crowded the yards outside the fraternity houses, pumping their fists in the air as they cheered. | After the announcements, protesters crowded the yards outside the fraternity houses, pumping their fists in the air as they cheered. |
| “Whose house?” one man yelled. “Our house!” the crowd responded. | |
| Amal Haddad, 18, a freshman, was among the protesters. | Amal Haddad, 18, a freshman, was among the protesters. |
| “Everyone kind of thought there was nothing we could do to get rid of them,” she said. “So this sit-in and the result of the sit-in was just a shocking and tremendously celebratory event.” | “Everyone kind of thought there was nothing we could do to get rid of them,” she said. “So this sit-in and the result of the sit-in was just a shocking and tremendously celebratory event.” |
| Ms. Haddad said protesters were likely to continue the occupation until the university met a larger set of demands related to its handling of sexual assault. “We don’t have a plan to leave just yet,” she said. | Ms. Haddad said protesters were likely to continue the occupation until the university met a larger set of demands related to its handling of sexual assault. “We don’t have a plan to leave just yet,” she said. |