On Monday, an email from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life announced all Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic social events are suspended indefinitely after a racist image circulated online.<\/p>\n
The email didn\u2019t describe the image in detail, but the photo, which surfaced on Yik Yak, showed a BORG \u2014 or \u201cblackout rage gallon\u201d \u2014 labeled \u201cBorg Floyd,\u201d an apparent reference to George Floyd, the Black man murdered by a white Minneapolis police officer in 2020.<\/p>\n
In their message to the Greek life community, administrators called the incident \u201cdeeply disheartening and frustrating\u201d and referred it to the university for investigation. They acknowledged the \u201cvery real harm\u201d caused, particularly to Black students and students of color, and said social events would remain on hold while the community reflects and develops \u201cactionable steps\u201d to create a campus environment \u201csafe and free of hate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But reflection alone isn\u2019t enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Greek life represents a significant portion of Lehigh\u2019s undergraduate population. According to a 2024 Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs trend report,<\/a> more than 1,200 students are affiliated with Greek organizations. Panhellenic\u2019s own self-reported demographic survey<\/a> in the 2023-24 school year showed that roughly 430 to 450 members identify as white or Caucasian, compared to approximately 10 to 15 members who identify as Black or African American.\u00a0<\/p>\n While not all members completed the survey, the data illustrated what many students of color already know: Greek life remains overwhelmingly white.\u00a0<\/p>\n When racist language is used within chapter houses, accountability has taken the form of internal standards meeting, conversations and \u201cwritten reflections.\u201d Members are rarely removed from their organizations. Consequences such as essays and apologies send a message that racism is a mistake to be corrected, not to be addressed.<\/p>\n If chapters truly value belonging and respect, those values must extend beyond statements and workshops every few months. They must be reflected in action. Protecting the comfort of members can\u2019t take precedence over protecting the safety of students of color.<\/p>\n