Sigma Alpha Epsilon Prepping for Hearings for University of Oklahoma Members

Members of the University of Oklahoma's disbanded Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter are being given a chance to appear at hearings to "defend themselves" in front of the national headquarters.

The more than 100 members of the school's chapter are currently suspended after a video surfaced online this week showing some members singing a racist chant that included an epithet used against black people and referenced lynching.

The national fraternity's officials said in a statement Saturday that the suspended men "will have an opportunity to defend themselves and present information or facts for review."

"As part of the proceedings, the commissioners will recommend to the board of directors one of several penalties, which include retaining the current suspension until their graduation or expulsion from the fraternity," officials added.

The University of Oklahoma swiftly shut down the fraternity, and national Sigma Alpha Epsilon officials suspended the entire chapter. Two members who officials said played leadership roles in the singing were also expelled from the school.

The chapter hired a high-profile lawyer, Stephen Jones, who said during a news conference Friday that he wasn't looking to pursue legal action, but rather, wants to make sure the fraternity brothers' rights were being protected.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

In Saturday's statement, Sigma Alpha Epsilon national headquarters said that each member will present their case in front of a "special trial commission composed of impartial alumni."

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

Jones did not say Friday that he intended to sue Sigma Alpha Epsilon's national headquarters and said he would rather not get into a legal battle with the school, although he believed University of Oklahoma President David Boren's decision to shutter the fraternity may have been "a little over-broad."

University spokeswoman Catherine Bishop declined to respond directly to Jones' comments. She told NBC News that the school is "continuing its investigation into the recent events relating to SAE and is seeking to learn all the relevant facts and circumstances surrounding those events."

IN-DEPTH

• SAE Members Got Death Threats Over Racist Song, Lawyer Says
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chapter at Oklahoma University Hires Attorney
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Has Worried About Frat House Culture for Years

— Elisha Fieldstadt