“One room. A bottle of roofies. And a shit ton of random people.”
The “Roofies & Randos” Facebook event came to Butler University’s attention on Sunday.
A Butler University student who thought the event was inappropriate brought the event to the university’s attention, Dean of Student Life Irene Stevens said.
The event was set up by junior Josh Whitaker, a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, and John Kay, an unaffiliated student.
To be held at “The Imaginarium,” the Facebook event page said there would be roofies, also known as the date-rape drug, passed out at the door in Pez candy dispensers.
Stevens said the university has no knowledge that a party actually happened.
According to the Director of Greek Life Becky Druetzler, the creators claim the party was meant to be an inside joke for the creators’ friends. They did not expect it would go outside their friends.
“It’s making me look like a bad person,” Whitaker said of the incident. “It’s unfortunate, but we didn’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings.”
Both Whitaker and Kay claimed responsibility for the event as individuals, she said. It does not appear this was a chapter-endorsed event.
Phi Kappa Psi President Nathan Krout confirmed that statement.
“The men of Phi Kappa Psi do not agree with the poor judgment recently exercised by one of our members,” Krout said in an e-mail.
He said he assures the chapter was not aware of the planning or creation of this event.
Although the chapter wasn’t involved in planning the event, Krout said he recognizes that [Whitaker] represents Butler’s Phi Kappa Psi chapter.
“[The chapter] hopes that our campus can see past this instance, bearing in mind that we would never allow this type of conduct to take place,” Krout said. “[Phi Kappa Psi] deeply apologizes to any who were offended by the broadcasting of this false event.
“Please rest assured that swift actions are being taken to ensure that this type of external fabrication does not occur in the future.”
Because Kay and Whitaker came forward as individuals, an “adjudication” will take place through Student affairs.
“Because it is connected with what is known to be a date-rape drug, it’s very serious,” Druetzler said. “It’s offensive to a lot of people.”
To think things posted on Facebook can be kept isolated is naïve, she said.
According to Stevens, an investigation led by Sgt. Tony Rivera started on Monday morning to look further into the event.
The university is also deciding whether or not the joke was appropriate, she said.
“We recognize that the improper treatment of women is completely unacceptable behavior,” Krout said. “We sincerely regret that an individual associated with our fraternity made light of this issue.”