CORTLAND — SUNY Cortland officials say they are investigating offensive banners that were seen hanging from off-campus houses Friday, including one that read “Freshman Daughter Drop-Off.”

The signs are similar to those seen hanging from a private home at Old Dominion University in Virginia. Several members of the Sigma Nu fraternity on that campus live at that home, and the national chapter suspended their activities because of the signs.

A sign was seen hanging from a home on Groton Avenue in Cortland at around 3:30 p.m. Friday, and university officials say a similar sign may have been hanging at another location.

“On a day that we welcomed our new students and families to our community I was disappointed to hear that a few students chose to hang highly offensive banners from their off-campus houses,” SUNY Cortland President Erik Bitterbaum said in a message sent to students, family and staff. “Sadly, we’ve seen news of similar signs in college communities across the country. Once we became aware of the signs, we worked in cooperation with local authorities to address this issue.”

Bitterbaum said local authorities were called, and the signs were immediately taken down after the reports.

“As I stated at the opening meeting for faculty and staff this past Thursday, student success and well-being are the most important goals of our College,” Bitterbaum said. “We will not stand by when we see or hear things that attempt to undermine these priorities.”