Pi Kappi Phi fraternity at North Carolina State University is on interim suspension and the school is temporarily banning alcohol at social events for most fraternities, following the discovery of a racially and sexually explicit pledge book near the campus.
The book that is allegedly linked to the fraternity's members was discovered at a restaurant near the school and shown to the local TV station WRAL on Thursday night.
Here are some of the derogatory and disturbing comments the book contains:
"It will be short and painful, just like when I rape you."
"You can only trust a n***** as far as you can throw them."
"Man that tree is so perfect for a lynching."
"If she's hot enough, she doesn't need a pulse."
"I like little girls."
"Be kind to the whales because they'll lead you to the dolphins."
The quotes are attributed to members of NC State's Pi Kappa Phi chapter.
In a statement on the national fraternity's website, Pi Kappa Phi Chief Executive Mark E. Timmes said that the quotes in the book are "reprehensible and unacceptable."
"We have sent staff to Raleigh to investigate the circumstances of the situation," he said. "These statements are inconsistent with the values of Pi Kappa Phi and will not be tolerated."
Timmes said the fraternity is working with the university and has instructed its students to cooperate with the investigation.
In the meantime, the Tau Chapter will be on interim suspension pending the investigation's outcome. Until then, fraternity members cannot hold meetings or take part in philanthropic events, WRAL reported.
NC State said in a statement that it had obtained the book Friday morning and was conducting interviews to determine who was responsible.
The school's spokesman, Mick Kulikowski, said that NC State was "committed to a thorough investigation and appropriate actions while also ensuring due process for all involved."
Separately, earlier this week, the fraternity Alpha Tau Omega suspended its chapter after drug and sex assault allegations.
The school said Friday it was temporarily banning alcohol at fraternity events "response to national issues and recent allegations of inappropriate behaviors."
Mike Mullen, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, said in a statement that the university "does not condone intolerant behaviors directed at any members of the community, and the content in the book that surfaced Thursday night is deeply troubling. The university is working swiftly to determine who is responsible."
Katie Perry, a senior at the university whose coworkers found the book at the restaurant, told WRAL News that it was "just a group of 60-something young men at State making jokes about raping people, raping children, raping dead women, making very overt racist comments,"
"That's embarrassing and scary," she added.
The book is the latest in a series of allegations of racist and obscene behavior by members of various fraternities that has resulted the closing of chapters and suspension of members at campuses in multiple states.
The University of Oklahoma shut the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter and expelled two students after its members were caught using a racist chant earlier this month.
Penn State University suspended the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity on Tuesday after its members were accused of taking photos of mostly naked women — while sleeping or unconscious — and posting them online.
Thumbnail image via WRAL News.