The College will not take any action against Beta Theta Pi fraternity for the fraternity's involvement with a controversial racially and sexually offensive poem written during the summer.
A Beta brother allegedly wrote and read the poem aloud at a weekly meeting of the fraternity. The poem allegedly contained racially and sexually offensive material, specifically about Native American women, including one by name.
A group of women from Native Americans at Dartmouth and Sigma Delta sorority discovered the poem and called a meeting in mid-August with Beta brothers, where they asked the brothers to privately apologize for the incident.
The poem caused a minor furor on campus, as some students felt the poem violated the College's Principles of Community. Many concerned students wrote letters to The Dartmouth and Assistant Dean of Residential Life Deb Reinders said she would investigate the matter.
Reinders yesterday said she has completed investigating the offensive letter. "There was not enough evidence that [the fraternity brothers] violated any College policy," she said.
Dean of the College Lee Pelton said yesterday the College had no interest in disciplining Beta for the poem.
"It's not a matter of evidence," Pelton said. "From a disciplinary standpoint, the College has no interest in this. From a community view, the College does have an interest."
Pelton said a piece of writing that is harmful to others "is not consistent with the values of this institution."
Pelton said he received in September an unsigned letter written on Beta stationery. He said the letter stipulated the fraternity would sponsor two panel discussions on sexism and racism.
Pelton said he had yet to hear more from Beta on the subject, but yesterday he drafted a letter regarding the poem that he will send to Beta President Jason Fanuele '96 and Matt Raben '96, president of the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council.
In an electronic-mail message to The Dartmouth last night, Fanuele wrote "although [the poem] was an isolated incident, we have taken measures to assure that this vulgar racism and sexism will not occur again.
"Although the term has just begun, we have two panel discussions already being planned," Fanuele wrote. "They are still in their embryonic stage, but one may be with the Director of Women's Resource Center, Giavanna Munafo and the other may be held within" the Interfraternity Council.
"Through these discussions, we feel that we can use an unfortunate incident that was exclusive to Beta to help curb racism and sexism throughout the entire Greek system," Fanuele wrote.
Raben said the controversy was a "summer issue" and the matter is dead.
"I'm not planning on doing anything as of right now," Raben said.
Reinders said her investigation included speaking with Beta Summer President Tom Macejko '97. She said she could not divulge any more information about her investigation, because College policy requires all investigations to be confidential.
Macejko declined to comment last night.
Sarah Johnston '97, vice president of the Student Assembly's community service committee, said the College community needs to discuss the poem.
Johnston said she hopes to see the "open discussions of gender relations" that she said Macejko promised the campus.
Some of the women who said they read the poem previously divulged some of its contents, which included allusions to rape.
Debbie Carbonaro '97, who said she heard the poem second-hand, previously recalled two lines of the poem for The Dartmouth: "I followed her down the Trail of Tears/I can't believe I've only had three beers."
Some of the women who knew the poem's author said he was very drunk when he wrote and recited it.
