Sorority member at University of Kansas on probation after post criticizing Black Lives Matter

After sharing a tweet from conservative commentator Candace Owens criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement, University of Kansas sophomore Katherine Lauer was placed on probation by her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, raising questions of Free Speech on college campuses.

Key Players

Katherine Lauer is a student at the University of Kansas and a member of the Kappa chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Candace Owens is a conservative commentator who founded the Blexit movement, an organization intended to draw Black voters away from the Democratic Party. She previously served as a communications director for Turning Point USA, a right-wing organization that promotes conservatism on high school and college campuses.

The Kappa Alpha Theta sorority was founded in 1870 at Indiana Asbury University (now DePauw University) as the first Greek-letter fraternity for women. Notable Kappa Alpha Theta alumnae include former President George W. Bush’s wife Laura and daughters Barbara and Jenna. Some chapters of the sorority — such as at the University of Florida and Colgate University — have come under fire for hazing, including excessive alcohol consumption and racially insensitive comments.

Further Details

On Sept. 23, 2020, Owens tweeted a critique of the Black Lives Matter movement, which she described as “the most flagrantly racist organization in America.” On the same day, Lauer shared the post on her own social media account.

On Oct. 18, 2020, Kappa Alpha Theta summoned Lauer for a review of her conduct over Zoom. The next day, the sorority placed her on discretionary probation for conduct unbecoming of a member of the sorority, specifically citing her “argumentative communication … with members as a result of [her] social media posts,” according to the letter of probation.

Lauer told the New York Post that fellow members of the sorority had reached out to her to communicate that they found her posts, which also included anti-abortion stances and criticisms of then-presidential candidate Joe Biden, hurtful. Lauer also complained that the sorority had not taken similar actions against members who posted condemnations of President Trump and his policies.

Under the terms of her probation, Lauer was to watch a video selected by the sorority’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. In addition, she was required to have a conversation with the chief operating officer of the sorority in order to “get a broader education on America today.”

Lauer was also tasked with monitoring her social media posts between Oct. 19 and Oct. 26, 2020, by assessing whether they align with the Kappa Alpha Theta online social media contract, which stipulates that members engage with social media “in a manner that is respectful of oneself and others.” The probation letter noted that Lauer was asked to question whether her posts helped or hurt women of another race.

Outcome

Conservative groups come to Lauer’s defense

After the sorority announced Lauer’s probation, multiple conservative groups defended Lauer and her stance. The Turning Point USA chapter at the University of Kansas posted a statement Oct. 22, 2020, extending its support to Lauer. It demanded that the sorority immediately “issue an apology for [Lauer’s] adverse treatment.”

In addition, the University of Kansas College Republicans posted a statement the same day, arguing that the sorority failed to provide a “healthy community for their membership.” Similar to Turning Point USA, the College Republicans also called for the sorority to issue a formal apology.