Edinburgh Uni Probes 'Rape Threats'
A leading university has launched an investigation into threats of rape said to have been made by members of a US-style all-male fraternity.
Minutes from a meeting of a student group calling themselves the Delta Kappa Epsilon were leaked to Edinburgh University student newspaper The Student.
It is claimed comments about going on a raping trip'' and discussions about sexual harassment and transphobia against the university's feminist society are included in the minutes.
A statement from Edinburgh University said: We are treating this matter extremely seriously.
The university is committed to promoting a positive culture for working and studying, in which all members of the university's community treat each other with dignity and respect.
Accordingly, a senior member of staff has been appointed to investigate the allegations further.
It is open to the complainant to raise the matter with the police. In the meantime, we are pressing ahead with urgency with our own inquiry.''
The feminist society said it condemned in the strongest terms the abhorrent misogynistic and transphobic behaviour and statements'' made by the fraternity.
Eve Livingston, vice-president of the Edinburgh University Student Association (EUSA), told The Student: Delta Kappa Epsilon have no affiliation with EUSA.
We as an organisation, alongside NUS Scotland, have publicly condemned them in the past, commenting on the dangerous and misogynistic nature of fraternities which have no place in our student community.
We are shocked and appalled by the contents of the leaked minutes and our priority is absolutely the welfare and safety of our students.
As of this morning, I have raised the issue with the university secretary as a breach of the code of student conduct and a potential criminal offence, and I await an official response from the university.''
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said no formal complaint had been made but added they were talking to the university''.
The Delta Kappa Epsilon society is said to be one of the oldest fraternities in America.