Jim Crow on Fraternity Row
As the nation's first fraternity to include both Christians and Jews, Delta Sigma Phi has a long history of inclusion. But on Nov. 5 the fraternity's Auburn University chapter was suspended, along with the Auburn chapter of Beta Theta Pi, for "potentially offensive and racist conduct."
At Halloween parties on Oct. 25 and 27, members of the two fraternities were photographed wearing blackface and Ku Klux Klan robes. Some members even went so far as to simulate the lynching of a member in blackface who was wearing a T-shirt bearing the name FUBU. (The FUBU line of clothing was created by African Americans and marketed "FOR US BY US.") Other members in blackface were dressed in shirts bearing the Greek letters of Omega Psi Phi, Auburn's oldest black fraternity.
An anonymous phone call to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project directed a researcher to an Internet site containing the photos.
“In the wake of what we experienced September 11th, this is the last thing we would have expected to see,” said Evelyn Crayton, president of the Auburn Black Caucus, an organization of African American faculty, staff and administrators.
The university withdrew its recognition of Beta Theta Pi and Delta Sigma Phi, pending a full investigation of apparent violations of the university's harassment and discriminaton policies. Both national fraternities are also investigating, with closure of their Auburn chapters a possibility.
"We're absolutely disgusted by what we've seen," said Jon Hockman, national executive director of Delta Sigma Phi. "The pictures completely contradict what we have always stood for. Clearly, action will be taken."
The other fraternity under investigation, Beta Theta Pi, is one of the nation's oldest and largest, with more than 165,000 members. National administrative secretary Steve Becker said that number includes "numerous" African American members at chapters other than Auburn's, though he could not provide a total.
“We take these things very seriously," Becker said. "This is not in line with our principles and values.”
The national president of Omega Psi Phi, the black fraternity lampooned at the parties, called for something more than temporary suspensions.
“The images are very insulting," said Lloyd Jordan. "We feel this requires severe university disciplinary action. A public apology is necessary."
Omega Psi Phi, one of the oldest and largest black Greek letter organizations with 150,000 members and more than 600 chapters internationally, has an illustrious history and membership. Bill Cosby, Langston Hughes, Douglas Wilder, Jesse Jackson and Michael Jordan are just some of its noted members.
Lloyd Jordan said the problem was not just with the fraternity chapters involved, but also with the university.
“This is probably an indication of the character of the students allowed at Auburn. It is probably not the first action of this kind. It is very serious because they are not children and obviously believe they can do this in this university environment.”
Wes Williams, Auburn's vice president for student affairs, said the university would "pursue the investigations aggressively."
University policy forbids "any form of discrimination or harassment related to a student's race." The policy defines harassment broadly, including "slurs, jokes or other graphic or physical conduct related to a student's race."
"Thirty-seven years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act," Williams said, "there is no acceptable explanation for the appearance of students in Ku Klux Klan robes or blackface."
Check out these pics
http://www.tolerance.org/news/feature/a uburn/index.html
