Half of Tufts Sorority Drops After Transgender Student's Acceptance Delayed

MEDFORD, MA – Alleged discrimination of a transgender student has cut one sorority at Tufts University in half, according to student newspaper Tufts Daily.

About 40 to 45 members of the Delta chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi dropped the sorority in October, former president Kristin Reeves told the publication. Prior to Oct. 14, AOII had 81 members.

The protest stemmed from continued delays on the part of the national organization to grant the woman a bid after the chapter voted her in, according to Reeves.

"They said that they didn't want us to extend her a bid, basically," Reeves told Tufts Daily. "They were like, 'well, we're not saying you never could, we're just saying right now you can't.' I was really mad about this, as was the rest of the chapter, so we unanimously decided to give her a bid anyway."

In an email to Patch, AOII's Assistant Director of Public Relations Courtney West wrote, "Alpha Omicron Pi believes that all individuals are unique, with inherent worth and dignity, and should be treated with respect." West said the student was ultimately given a bid.

"At no time was the chapter threatened with disciplinary action or to be sued," West wrote.

Officials from the national organization said there was no precedent for extending a bid to a transgender woman, and they worried about a potential Title IX violation, Tufts Daily reported.

According to West, the students who chose to leave have expressed interest in establishing a local sorority on campus.

"The Fraternity wishes them well in that endeavor," she said. "There are still many women in Delta Chapter who are dedicated AOII members. The chapter will continue to recruit members who embrace diversity, are passionate about social action, and are dedicated to maintaining their high standards of excellence."

By Daderot (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons