In the wake of the temporary suspension of two NC State fraternities on Friday, Mike Mullen, the vice chancellor and dean of the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, is reaching out to student leaders and the Greek community to clarify what the university finds unacceptable and to say the administration is investigating and working to address concerns.

Pi Kappa Phi is under investigation after a pledge book including racist and sexist quotes attributed to current members was turned over to a local media outlet and then the university on Thursday. Alpha Tau Omega has been under investigation since early March after a female student reported she was sexually assaulted at the organization’s house and allegations that members were dealing drugs surfaced.

Mullen sent the entire Greek community, which accounts for more than 11 percent of the student body, a two-page letter on Friday night making it clear that the university “will not tolerate sexual assault, alcohol and substance abuse, intolerance, or other egregious misconduct within our community,” including Greek life and all other organizations. That letter was later distributed to DASA leadership by Justine Hollingshead, the Chief of Staff for DASA, to clarify for division staff what the administration is doing.

“Student leadership from IFC [Interfraternity Council] have been in regular contact with staff from Greek Life and will be meeting again today to talk about plans moving forward for education and review,” Hollingshead said in an email.

Mullen also sent an email to 15 student leaders Monday, assuring them that “we take this incident very seriously and are actively investigating the situation.” The note went on to underscore that the notebook incident is not in line with Greek or university values and that it also “takes time to carefully investigate this type of incident to make sure we are being thorough and fair in our review.”

Again, Hollingshead passed it along to her staff and acknowledged that “there have been some concerns raised about the perception of the review regarding the Pi Kappa Phi incident.”

She said that the apology letter sent to the Technician Sunday by Pi Kappa Phi Chapter President Max Copeland, in which he accepted responsibility for the book, was not prompted by the university and that the apology does not signify an end to the university’s investigation. 

“While it is a step on the part of these young men, it is by no means the end of a larger response,” Hollingshead said. 

 Chancellor Randy Woodson has yet to publicly respond to the incidents. The university has not sent a statement directly to the entire student body.