EDUCATION

Responding to racist chant, fraternity plans extensive review of chapters, other steps

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Executive Director Blane Ayers, right, and spokesperson Brandon Weghorst speak to reporters after a news conference Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in Chicago. The college fraternity that has been under scrutiny since members of its University of Oklahoma chapter were caught on video engaging in a racist chant says it will require all of its members, nationwide, to go through diversity training. Ayers said that he was disgusted by the video that surfaced last week. He apologized for the pain it caused and outlined steps meant to ensure it never happens again. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (The Associated Press)

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Executive Director Blane Ayers, right, and spokesperson Brandon Weghorst take questions from reporters after a news conference Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in Chicago. The college fraternity that has been under scrutiny since members of its University of Oklahoma chapter were caught on video engaging in a racist chant says it will require all of its members, nationwide, to go through diversity training. Ayers that he was disgusted by the video that surfaced last week. He apologized for the pain it caused and outlined steps meant to ensure it never happens again. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (The Associated Press)

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Executive Director Blane Ayers, right, and spokesperson Brandon Weghorst are video recorded as they speak to reporters after a news conference Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in Chicago. The college fraternity that has been under scrutiny since members of its University of Oklahoma chapter were caught on video engaging in a racist chant says it will require all of its members, nationwide, to go through diversity training. Ayers that he was disgusted by the video that surfaced last week. He apologized for the pain it caused and outlined steps meant to ensure it never happens again. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (The Associated Press)

A fraternity under scrutiny because of a racist chant caught on video plans to announce an extensive review of its chapters around the country.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity said it will unveil Wednesday what it calls a "national plan to combat racial intolerance." The Evanston, Illinois-based organization is holding a news conference in Chicago to announce its plans to eliminate insensitivity among its members.

The fraternity is responding to a video that surfaced last week. It showed University of Oklahoma fraternity members engaging in a racist chant that referenced lynching and indicated that black students never would be admitted to that university's chapter.

SAE has disbanded the local chapter for the video. The university has expelled two students and banned SAE. Two students identified in the video have apologized publicly.