National SAE Representatives Respond To OU Findings

National representatives from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity responded Friday to the findings of the University of Oklahoma investigation into the fraternity after members were caught on video engaging in a racist chant.

OU President David Boren said it was revealed the university's chapter likely learned the chant while attending a national leadership event four years ago.

3/27/15 Related Story: OU President Boren Announces Findings Of SAE Racist Chant Investigation

SAE Executive Director Blaine Ayers said the organization has no current evidence that the chant is widespread across the fraternity's 237 groups.

“We remain committed to identifying and rooting out racist behavior from SAE, and we are actively investigating all of our local organizations to determine whether there are issues in any other location,” Ayers said. “We intend to conduct a thorough and complete investigation, and this will take time. However, we will share the results of our investigation when it is complete. Our current findings at the University of Oklahoma are similar to those announced on Friday by University of Oklahoma President David Boren. But our investigation to date shows no evidence the song was widely shared across the broader organization.”

In the response, Ayers also said he contacted Boren on Friday to acknowledge the university's investigation and to assure Boren that Sigma Alpha Epsilon is continuing its own investigation.

3/25/15 Related Story: Expelled OU SAE Student, Black Civic Leaders Address The Media