Clemson sanctions fraternity for ‘Cripmas’ party

A Clemson University hearing board has sanctioned the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity in the wake of a gang-themed “Cripmas” party held last semester that highlighted racial tensions on the campus.

Clemson said Friday it has put SAE on disciplinary probation for two years through Feb. 10, 2017.

The fraternity must complete a comprehensive risk-management program by April 30 of this year that includes education about alcohol, social justice and gangs, the university said.

The fraternity held an administrative conference with Clemson’s Office of Community and Ethical Standards on Feb. 10 about allegations from the Dec. 7 party.

The fraternity violated three regulations – alcohol, failure to comply with an official request and student organizational conduct, the university said.

Photos from the party posted to Instagram showed white men and women dressed up in gang costumes and displaying gang symbols.

The photos sparked outrage among minority students at Clemson who said the party symbolized racial hostilities on its campus.

Clemson president Jim Clements wrote an open letter to students following the party saying it “raised more concerns about the campus climate.”

“Clemson is better than this,” Clements said at the time.

Clements announced the university would form a Diversity Council of on- and off-campus representatives, hold monthly student diversity luncheons to improve communication and would start a President’s Lecture Series on Leadership and Diversity.

Unhappy students followed up with a protest march in January that began to drive an ongoing public debate over whether Clemson should rename its most iconic building – Tillman Hall, named after a racist former S.C. governor who was one of Clemson’s founding trustees.

This story was originally published April 4, 2015 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Clemson sanctions fraternity for ‘Cripmas’ party."