The Sigma Nu fraternity chapter at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., has been suspended after photos of sexually suggestive banners targeting female freshmen that the fraternity allegedly created surfaced this weekend, according to NBC News.
The white signs draped over the the balconies of an off-campus house read "Rowdy and fun, hope your baby girl is ready for a good time," "Freshman Daughter Drop Off" and "Go ahead and Drop Off Mom Too."
Brad Beacham, executive director of Sigma Nu fraternity's national office, wrote about the banners at Old Dominion University in a statement.
"Sigma Nu Fraternity has suspended the activities of the Eta Chi Chapter at Old Dominion University pending completion of an investigation into offensive banners displayed from an off-campus, privately-owned property near the ODU campus last week," he said, according to the Talking Points Memo. "The fraternity condemns the derogatory and demeaning language used on the banners. Such language has no place in our fraternity or within any caring community, such as that of ODU. Any fraternity member found to be responsible for this reprehensible display will be held accountable by the fraternity."
Initially, the fraternity said no members were involved in the signs at the university, but later it was revealed some members may have been involved, according to the statement.
After the pictures of the banners went viral over social media, the university released a statement of its own on Saturday.
"At ODU, we foster a community of respect and dignity and these messages sickened us," the statement read. "They are not representative of our 3,000 faculty and staff, 25,000 students and our 130,000 alumni. Ours is a community that works actively to promote bystander intervention and takes a stand denouncing violence against women."
Old Dominion University's student government association also released a video statement in response to the banners.
"Not only do these actions taken by a few individuals undermine the countless efforts at Old Dominion University to prevent sexual assault, they are also unwelcoming, offensive and unacceptable," the student government association said in an accompanying written statement, WTKR reported.
A representative for the ODU Sigma Nu chapter declined to comment.
