OSC, OFSA yet to find source of crude flyers

After two days of investigation, there is still no evidence as to the source of the offensive anti-homosexual flyers that were distributed on campus last Friday.

The flyers, which claimed to be advertising a rush party at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity that evening, also contained sexually explicit photos -- likely taken from the Internet.

Although there is currently no information as to who may have been involved in the incident, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and the Office of Student Conduct are remaining in close contact, and both organizations hope to see some evidence surface soon.

There has also been no information found linking the flyers to the vandalism that was reported at the Pi Kappa Phi house last Monday evening at 4040 Walnut Street, in which obscenities were spray-painted on the door of the fraternity.

Michele Goldfarb, director of the OSC, said that although the investigation will continue, at this point it is difficult to determine how the University will handle the situation if a suspect is identified.

Without knowing the exact nature of the conflict and whether the culprit was an individual or a group of people, it is "hard to know what the course of action would be," she said.

While she declined to speculate on the source of the flyers at the present time, Goldfarb said that the OSC will be keeping its eyes and ears open for any information that may be related to the incident.

OFSA Director Scott Reikofski said that if it turns out that an entire fraternity was involved with the incident, that fraternity would most likely be placed on probation with the national organization.

However, if an individual student is proven responsible, Reikofski said the OSC will handle the issue as a violation of the University's Code of Student Conduct.

The decision would also be based on whether or not there is any evidence linking the distribution of the flyers to the vandalism that occurred last Monday evening at the Pi Kappa Phi house.

If there is evidence of criminal conduct, the OSC will definitely involve the University Police Department in resolving the situation, Goldfarb said.

Reikofski said that he is disappointed that this type of incident took place in an environment like Penn.

"In what is supposed to be an enlightened community, this is not the behavior I would expect from anybody," he said.

Incoming InterFraternity Council President Conor Daly voiced sentiments similar to those of Reikofski about the prejudiced statements made in the flyer.

"The IFC is open... to everyone," Daly said. "This is something that we do not tolerate... because of the nature of the attacks."

Daly stressed that the IFC will not put up with discrimination under any circumstances. He added that it was the content of the anti-homosexual references themselves, rather than the fact that the flyers related to rush, that was both offensive and ridiculous.

While the official investigation of the incident will be left to OFSA and the OSC, Pi Kappa Phi brothers remained concerned.

"We're still working very hard to find out who did this," Phi Kapp President Andrew Schwartz said.

The OSC will continue the investigation throughout the week.

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