15 Auburn students suspended

AUBURN, Ala., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Auburn University said Thursday it has indefinitely suspended 15 students who wore Ku Klux Klan costumes and blackface to fraternity Halloween parties.

"I think the continued presence of these students in the university community poses an immediate threat to the well-being of the university and we're taqking that action," said Auburn President William Walker.

The suspended students were members of the now disbanded Beta Theta Pi and Delta Sigma Phi fraternities.

Another student had earlier dropped out of school because of the incident. The suspended students could later face penalties ranging up to explusion from the university.

Walker said he has asked the university's general counsel to request an investigation by the Lee County District Attorney's Office to determine if any crimes were committed in association with the two fraternity parties.