Phi Kappa Psi National Fraternity Expresses Outrage At Rolling Stone Apology

INDIANAPOLIS, April 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The undergraduate members of our University of Virginia Chapter have comported themselves honorably and with grace during a period of great stress and turmoil. As a result of the unfounded claims of the Rolling Stone article, their civil rights have been infringed; their characters, impugned; and the course of their education, disrupted. They were threatened with physical violence; their living quarters were vandalized; and they spent the last six months living in the shadow of flagrant falsehoods. While their conduct throughout this ordeal has been exemplary, Rolling Stone's retraction and apology in no way address the material damage the story's false allegations have made to these young men and their Chapter.

The writer, editor, and all involved with the journalistic and editorial process recklessly and without foundation or corroboration, published a lurid and fictitious account that not only destroyed reputations but, more seriously, undermined the credibility of all victims of sexual assault. No matter what Rolling Stone states now, the magazine's arrogant disregard for the truth has incurred momentous damage.

It is patently disingenuous of Ms. Erdely to use her concern for the victim as an excuse for gross and willful misrepresentation of the facts. In her reporting, Ms. Erdely protected the identity of the accuser and witnesses, but had no reluctance in naming the Fraternity allegedly involved--a glaring presumption of guilt without any level of due process. Rolling Stone has not gone far enough in addressing internal practices that promulgate sensationalist reportage at the expense of the truth. A great deal of damage has been done without consequence to the perpetrators of this outrage. We call on the publisher to hold all those involved to account.

The Phi Kappa Psi National Fraternity expresses its support for the Virginia Alpha Chapter at the University of Virginia and its pursuit of legal remedies in this matter. The National Fraternity continues independently to evaluate its options.

The Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity is a 501(c) (7) association of men of integrity who strive to develop the individual in his intellect, in his involvement in the community and in his faith. The Fraternity was founded on February 19, 1852 at Jefferson College by William Henry Letterman and Charles Page Thomas Moore.  It currently has 103 chapters across the United States, with over 6,500 undergraduate members and over 80,000 living alumni.

Contact: Chad Stegemiller, Assistant Executive Director
317-632-1852 - [email protected]

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SOURCE Phi Kappa Psi