The college confirmed today that Phi Omega Phi is officially dissolved and removed from campus. This result belongs to everyone who stood up to demand accountability instead of settling for a temporary suspension. Keep an eye on the administration to ensure they maintain this standard for all organizations moving forward.
May 20, 2020
Final supporters
Petition Started (2/20/2020)
*** UPDATE: As of (2/21/2020) at 11:36 AM the Dean of Students has announced suspension of Phi Omega Phi for the next 4-8 weeks. This is not good enough. This is about more than just the most recent event. It's about the series of events and warnings this group has continued to ignore. 4 weeks is a kick in the throat to all the sexual assault survivors! It is important, that we remain civil, as we have, in the protesting of the group. Violence and threats will get neither party anywhere! ***
Following a recent string of events in the last couple years including but not limited to sexual harassment, leaked derogatory audio, and more recently the displaying of explicit images of female peers at a rush event it’s evident that the Phi Omega Phi fraternity (With the commonly known tagline "HP", or Hail Poobah) clearly has violated the Greek life policies too many times.
COG's were suspended for an underage drinker and had to drop a pledge class. Why can POP continue as normal after a rape at one of their houses, showing nude images during pledging, and etc? That is absurd. Why would Augustana College not disband the POP Fraternity? That is because their alumni are big donors to the school. @Augustana, will you continue to put donors and financial gain ahead of the the safety of the student body? Will you finally disband this group as a form of PREVENTION from this happening again?
The apology emails are no longer meaningful as they continually prove to disregard their commitment to improve their culture. Enough is enough and if serious action is not taken what kind of environment are we advocating at Augustana?
End this. Poobah donors should not matter. The fact that Poobah’s are in control of much of campus should not matter. What does matter? The girls in those photos, the girl who was raped, the safety of Augustana College and PREVENTION of any more of this taking place.
The information is already publicy out there. What kind of image do you want to set for our school, @Augustana? Will you put donors above school safety?
TIMELINE OF EVENTS W/ Phi Omega Phi (ROUGH OUTLINE)
2014: Rape case dropped - https://qconline.com/news/crime/report-rape-charges-not-filed-because-of-victim-s-uncertainty/article_32c3c2d4-5df1-5cbd-a377-305c5f7b7ac0.html (Allegedly against POP)
2018: Alleged case at their main frat house: https://www.kwqc.com/content/news/Augustana-studen... (Confirmed)
Same as above ^^^ - https://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/augustana-college-ri-police-investigate-alleged-off-campus-sexual-assault/article_0265d652-5229-52bc-992a-3c6a11f4e952.html (Confirmed)
2019: "College is all about sex" leaked audio - https://qconline.com/news/local/at-augustana-demonstrations-and-condemnations-over-campus-sexual-culture/article_6ba054a5-2fb2-537f-9dae-d4ac725853ab.html (Confirmed)
2019: Continuation of protests over the fact it took 2 weeks for school to notify students of sexual assault cause - http://augustanaobserver.com/archives/24384 (Allegedly against POP Fraternity)
2019: Augustana recognized for their actions towards sexual assault (To say "everything is fine" to donors here, most likely) - https://www.augustana.edu/about-us/news/college-recognized-efforts-support-survivors-prevent-assault
2020: Explicit images of female peers displayed during 90 minute rush event. (Confirmed)
*** EDIT:
1) While we recognize that not every individual in this group partakes or approves of these actions. The fact it keeps happening and we allow this group to exist is the problem. They claim to want to fix their culture after the previous sexual assault episode yet run explicit photo's to a bunch of potential pledges the year after. We do not have anything against most individuals in the group (Though we wonder why they still choose to be associated with them), we have a problem with their culture and it is for that reason that they should be disbanded effective immediately. Enough is enough.
2) It was brought to my attention that the girls featured gave 'consent' to the fraternity. This does not change the previous years actions, and is not about the fact they gave consent this time. It's about the culture this promotes by displaying it to an entire class of pledges.
***
Updates
February 21, 2020
We just hit 100 signatures to hold Phi Omega Phi accountable. Screenshot this petition and post it to your Instagram story right now to put pressure on the administration. Send an email to the Dean of Students today demanding full removal instead of this temporary suspension.
February 21, 2020
We just hit 1,000 signatures. Post this link on Facebook and text three friends who attend Augustana to keep the pressure on the administration. Email your representative on the board of trustees today to demand they prioritize student safety over donor money.
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 20, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
February 20, 2020
254 Comments
My own experiences in the Greek system as part of the last PUG pledge class in 1993 leads me to not doubt the accused practices. My own pledge experience was traumatizing and I wholeheartedly believe that the Greek System brings little advantage to an Augustana student.
I attended Augustana 40 years ago and Phi Omega Phi (POP, as they were known then) engaged in questionable activities even then. If they're still at it (seriously nude women in a recruitment video?) then it's time for them to permanently lose their charter.
My granddaughter is a freshman at Augie, and till now I have proudly worn my hat and shirt announcing the fact that I am Augustana Grandparent! Please have the sense and gumption to do the right thing, and get rid of this fraternity fraught with a continuing sexist nature!
I went to UIUC and there were similar issues; however, they were immediately dealt with and a fraternity was immediately removed from campus. This is ridiculous behavior and should not be tolerated by the institution. Certainly a black mark for an otherwise reputable college. Sad.
Real change needs to happen. Enough with the "boys being boys" mentality. An apology isn't enough. Sure, there's a handful of good guys, but as a frat you all are allowing instances like this to happen over and over again.
Why tf are they still here
Bye bye
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The college confirmed today that Phi Omega Phi is officially dissolved and removed from campus. This result belongs to everyone who stood up to demand accountability instead of settling for a temporary suspension. Keep an eye on the administration to ensure they maintain this standard for all organizations moving forward.
May 20, 2020
Final supporters
Petition Started (2/20/2020)
*** UPDATE: As of (2/21/2020) at 11:36 AM the Dean of Students has announced suspension of Phi Omega Phi for the next 4-8 weeks. This is not good enough. This is about more than just the most recent event. It's about the series of events and warnings this group has continued to ignore. 4 weeks is a kick in the throat to all the sexual assault survivors! It is important, that we remain civil, as we have, in the protesting of the group. Violence and threats will get neither party anywhere! ***
Following a recent string of events in the last couple years including but not limited to sexual harassment, leaked derogatory audio, and more recently the displaying of explicit images of female peers at a rush event it’s evident that the Phi Omega Phi fraternity (With the commonly known tagline "HP", or Hail Poobah) clearly has violated the Greek life policies too many times.
COG's were suspended for an underage drinker and had to drop a pledge class. Why can POP continue as normal after a rape at one of their houses, showing nude images during pledging, and etc? That is absurd. Why would Augustana College not disband the POP Fraternity? That is because their alumni are big donors to the school. @Augustana, will you continue to put donors and financial gain ahead of the the safety of the student body? Will you finally disband this group as a form of PREVENTION from this happening again?
The apology emails are no longer meaningful as they continually prove to disregard their commitment to improve their culture. Enough is enough and if serious action is not taken what kind of environment are we advocating at Augustana?
End this. Poobah donors should not matter. The fact that Poobah’s are in control of much of campus should not matter. What does matter? The girls in those photos, the girl who was raped, the safety of Augustana College and PREVENTION of any more of this taking place.
The information is already publicy out there. What kind of image do you want to set for our school, @Augustana? Will you put donors above school safety?
TIMELINE OF EVENTS W/ Phi Omega Phi (ROUGH OUTLINE)
2014: Rape case dropped - https://qconline.com/news/crime/report-rape-charges-not-filed-because-of-victim-s-uncertainty/article_32c3c2d4-5df1-5cbd-a377-305c5f7b7ac0.html (Allegedly against POP)
2018: Alleged case at their main frat house: https://www.kwqc.com/content/news/Augustana-studen... (Confirmed)
Same as above ^^^ - https://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/augustana-college-ri-police-investigate-alleged-off-campus-sexual-assault/article_0265d652-5229-52bc-992a-3c6a11f4e952.html (Confirmed)
2019: "College is all about sex" leaked audio - https://qconline.com/news/local/at-augustana-demonstrations-and-condemnations-over-campus-sexual-culture/article_6ba054a5-2fb2-537f-9dae-d4ac725853ab.html (Confirmed)
2019: Continuation of protests over the fact it took 2 weeks for school to notify students of sexual assault cause - http://augustanaobserver.com/archives/24384 (Allegedly against POP Fraternity)
2019: Augustana recognized for their actions towards sexual assault (To say "everything is fine" to donors here, most likely) - https://www.augustana.edu/about-us/news/college-recognized-efforts-support-survivors-prevent-assault
2020: Explicit images of female peers displayed during 90 minute rush event. (Confirmed)
*** EDIT:
1) While we recognize that not every individual in this group partakes or approves of these actions. The fact it keeps happening and we allow this group to exist is the problem. They claim to want to fix their culture after the previous sexual assault episode yet run explicit photo's to a bunch of potential pledges the year after. We do not have anything against most individuals in the group (Though we wonder why they still choose to be associated with them), we have a problem with their culture and it is for that reason that they should be disbanded effective immediately. Enough is enough.
2) It was brought to my attention that the girls featured gave 'consent' to the fraternity. This does not change the previous years actions, and is not about the fact they gave consent this time. It's about the culture this promotes by displaying it to an entire class of pledges.
***
Updates
February 21, 2020
We just hit 100 signatures to hold Phi Omega Phi accountable. Screenshot this petition and post it to your Instagram story right now to put pressure on the administration. Send an email to the Dean of Students today demanding full removal instead of this temporary suspension.
February 21, 2020
We just hit 1,000 signatures. Post this link on Facebook and text three friends who attend Augustana to keep the pressure on the administration. Email your representative on the board of trustees today to demand they prioritize student safety over donor money.
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 20, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
February 20, 2020
254 Comments
It’s time for this to end. I hate being associated as an alum of a school that has again and again put financial gain ahead of the well being of their students. I knew too many girls who dropped out as a result of sexual assault and the actions of POP need real punishment. Time’s up.
My own experiences in the Greek system as part of the last PUG pledge class in 1993 leads me to not doubt the accused practices. My own pledge experience was traumatizing and I wholeheartedly believe that the Greek System brings little advantage to an Augustana student.
I attended Augustana 40 years ago and Phi Omega Phi (POP, as they were known then) engaged in questionable activities even then. If they're still at it (seriously nude women in a recruitment video?) then it's time for them to permanently lose their charter.
My granddaughter is a freshman at Augie, and till now I have proudly worn my hat and shirt announcing the fact that I am Augustana Grandparent! Please have the sense and gumption to do the right thing, and get rid of this fraternity fraught with a continuing sexist nature!
I went to UIUC and there were similar issues; however, they were immediately dealt with and a fraternity was immediately removed from campus. This is ridiculous behavior and should not be tolerated by the institution. Certainly a black mark for an otherwise reputable college. Sad.
Real change needs to happen. Enough with the "boys being boys" mentality. An apology isn't enough. Sure, there's a handful of good guys, but as a frat you all are allowing instances like this to happen over and over again.
Why tf are they still here
Bye bye
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It’s time for this to end. I hate being associated as an alum of a school that has again and again put financial gain ahead of the well being of their students. I knew too many girls who dropped out as a result of sexual assault and the actions of POP need real punishment. Time’s up.