Since I started the thread on the TAMU Corp, I should be fair and post this. I don't know if this story is blown out of porportion, but I do have to say, when are these frats going to learn their lesson and just avoid doing things like this altogether. If it involves race, leave it alone, no matter what your intentions are. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/1772103 Feb. 10, 2003, 8:20AM Costumes at frat parties drawing complaints at UT Associated Press AUSTIN - Students at the University of Texas are accusing several fraternities of hosting parties in which participants wore racially insensitive costumes. A formal complaint was planned today against at least one of the fraternities. Dean of Students Teresa Graham Brett told The Daily Texan in today's edition she was informed of the Kappa Alpha Order party as well as Halloween parties thrown by Kappa Alpha and Phi Gamma Delta. She said students approached her with photographs of the parties taken by a local party photographer. One photograph taken at a Phi Gamma Delta Party on Oct. 31 shows a white man wearing black paint on his face and body, an "afro" wig on his head and a chain with a lock around his neck. Another photo taken at a Kappa Alpha party on Jan. 31 shows a white man wearing a T-shirt commemorating a Juneteenth event in 2000 while another is shown wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a large watermelon. UT economics senior Onaje Barnes said he and other students plan to file a complaint with the Office of Greek Life and Education regarding the "Gin and Juice Party" held by the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity on Jan. 31. But Kappa Alpha president Tim Weaver said the party's theme was meant to idolize rap music and popular culture icons and he did not realize people were going to be offended. "It seems there were some people that showed up with extremely offensive T-shirts," Weaver, an undeclared junior, told the newspaper. "I do apologize for that part of it. We do not think it should have been that big of a deal. It came at a bad time, I think." Barnes said the problem is that people think this behavior is acceptable. Phil Gamma Delta historian Chris Knox said he did not see anyone wearing such costumes at the fraternity's event. But Brett said she found the photographed costumes highly offensive, and is reviewing actions that can be taken against the fraternity.
PGabrial, No, That is my reason for hating Political correctness. I think it may be insensitive for sure, but who said that they were making fun of all black people? I thought the article said it was a party that put a parody on rappers. I highly doubt the guy wearing the vanilla Ice costume raised much of a fuss. DD
So what was the watermelon thing about? I agree about the whole gin and juice party, but this article is about more than one incident. What about the chain around the guys neck? I have no problem with people making fun of rappers, they leave themselves open just like any other entertainers but that wasn't the only thing in the article.
Pgabrial, Those people are out of line. However, in a free country, it is their right to be out of line. We are free to be idiots in this country, and unfortunatly we go out of our way to prove it each and every day. DD
One photograph taken at a Phi Gamma Delta Party on Oct. 31 shows a white man wearing black paint on his face and body, an "afro" wig on his head and a chain with a lock around his neck. i dont know what they really mean by a chain with a lock around it. if that is just supposed to be some cheap sort of rapper imitation or what, but the way the article stated the picture it did not seem as if it was a slavery reference. if i was then i'm guessing the article would have made a bigger deal out of it. anyhow....black people make racial stereotypes like this all day with their comedy so i don't see it as being wrong if a white frat does it. sure its not the greatest idea in the world, but still you have to put it in context.
"Yeah, black people make racial sterotypes like this all day with there comedy" That's a sterotype right there idiot, I never make fun of white people idiot, and even if you do believe that idiot, that is still no justification to make fun of slavery, which don't know if that is what the picture was idiot.
watch bet and you tell me if the comedians on there don't go to the race card pretty fast to get laughs. if a white person made jokes like that their career would be dead. and sorry if i stated my words wrong....i should have been more specific with comedians.
That's no excuse. First of all, this Kappa Alpha frat has a history of these incidents. Second of all, if you want to protest Black Comedians making fun of white people, go right ahead, I have no problem with that, as a matter of fact I might even support you because I don't think its right either. But two wrongs don't make a right, so that's no excuse for these frats. I bet you won't find a black fraternity having some party making fun of whites. The university is a community, even one as large as UT, so things like this should not take place. Don't try to hide ignorance under the cloak of of Freedom of Speech.
i agree that 2 wrongs don't make a right, but when you are a white person who is used to being the butt of jokes by all other races you tend to dismiss things like this because society makes it ok for all other races to make fun of white people. while i don't think its right i don't have a problem with it because whites still have the majority of power in society. also, while i think this party probably wasn't a great idea for the frat i also think that its kind of hipocritical when there is a furor raised over this stuff, but there is no problem with what is said every night on BET. hey don't get me wrong...i still watch it because it's funny, but i also find offensive stuff funny. anyhow, i'm just rambling...so yeah this party was a dumb idea and everyone knows frats are good ole boys, but at the same time there is a lot of racism that goes on with minorities that does not get the same level of attention. and i'm sure you could find some black frat making fun of white people.
Not a whole party whose theme is to demean another race. And when you find some black comedian making fun of some white people about something as sensitive as slavery, let me know.
white people arent allowed to be sensitive when they are made fun of. its never wrong to make fun of a white person in comedy. point being there is nothing equal to slavery for white people. white people aren't a group, so there is no one event to focus on. maybe the holocaust for jews if you consider them white. anyhow...i'm gonna go out on a limb, but i'm guessing you could find some black frat making fun of white people with a dress up like a dork party or like a WASP. frats are not a microcosm of white america...they are bunch of jackasses who are insensitive to everyone but themselves.
its not just white people...i mean i was watching caliente the other night and there was this one comedian just making fun of arabs and how it is ok for everyone to be afraid if they see an arab on a plane. i still thought it was funny, but like i said i find politically incorrect and racial stereotype stuff funny because of the absurdity of it.
Kappa Alpha is nationally known as a "southern" fraternity so it would not suprise me in the least to know that it's members held old, southern views towards race. That fraternity would attract people of that same mentatlity.
