Recently, a campus in Oklahoma was rocked by scandal. Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), the country’s largest fraternity, was banned from Oklahoma State University after a video surfaced recording a busload of members singing a racist song.

The video stirred up enough controversy that the entire fraternity, not a couple students, was flat out banned. The fraternity building will now be used to hold club meetings for such organizations as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) and Students Against Hate.

While these decisions have been largely agreeable and open-minded, some of the statements from the Heads of SAE have been suspect. The SAE national organization issued a statement stating “We are disgusted that any member would act in such a way,” the statement said. “Furthermore, we are embarrassed by this video and offer our empathy not only to anyone outside the organization who is offended but also to our brothers who come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities.”

However, this statement completely ignores SAE’s role in this scandal as an organization with a history of racism. Founded in the American South during the 1920’s, the fraternity has a long history of exclusion and some of the worst hazing committed against it’s pledges. As Common pointed out via his twitter account, “The fact is it’s unlikely these students made up this song on the spot. An organization founded in the Jim Crow South has probably been passing down these sorts of tunes for generations.”

SAE is in trouble, for many people from all over the nation are waking up that yes, these students were wrong for singing such an offensive tune, but this offensive tune didn’t write itself. The scandal won’t end until somebody this prestigious organization admits some sort of fault on the fraternity’s behalf, and not hide behind a busload of students.