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AU site shows racist images
By Ken L. Spear
Montgomery Advertiser
Racist images on the Internet led to the suspension Monday of all members of two Auburn University fraternities, officials reported.
The suspensions of about 185 students stem from sets of offensive Halloween party photos. White boys in blackface. A hooded Ku Klux Klansman holding a noose around the neck of a mock Negro. Some in the photos sported Afro wigs, stocking caps, bulky jewelry and jerseys of Omega Psi Phi, a prominent black fraternity.
University leaders suspended Delta Sigma Phi and Beta Theta Pi members pending a full investigation of apparent violations of the university's written policy on harassment and discrimination.
Also, the university withdrew its recognition of the fraternities. Other disciplinary action is possible.
The national offices of the fraternities are probing the two incidents.
"Thirty-seven years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, there is no acceptable explanation for the appearance of students in Ku Klux Klan robes or blackface," said Wes Williams, vice president for student affairs at Auburn.
Officials say the parties occurred Oct. 25 and 27 at the campus fraternity houses, which are university properties leased to the organizations.
Calls made to the fraternity houses were unanswered.
Members of Omega Psi Phi fraternity were alerted Sunday evening about the images, which first appeared on the partypics.com Web site administered by Village Photographers of Auburn.
Omega President Octavius Walton said fraternity members copied the photos and linked them to the Omega Psi Phi Web page to make a case with university administration.
"We knew it would be a problem trying to prove it. We had to have evidence," Walton said. "It's not what you can say, but what you can prove."
Black students alerted the administration that the stereotypical portrayal and the unauthorized use of the Omega jerseys constitute serious concerns.
"We're just going to handle it rationally. We're looking for the severest punishment possible," Walton said. "And if they don't (receive that), we'll seek higher means.
Walton said an apology won't be enough.
"It's like 2001, and it's still going on. They need more than just a pat on the wrist," Walton said.
Allen Patterson, general manager of Village Photographers, said the university's action may be too drastic.
"There were a few people who used bad judgment," Patterson said. "It's unfortunate that the entire fraternity would be penalized due to the indiscretion of a few members."
Patterson pulled the photos off the partypics.com Web site following a sequence of Monday morning calls.
"After looking at them, I felt they needed to be removed," he said. "At this point, some may go back up."
Meanwhile, Delta Sigma Phi's national office is appalled.
"The images we have seen are deplorable and completely contradictory to our fraternity's values and beliefs," said Jon Hockman, executive director of the Delta Sigma Phi national office in Indianapolis.
Delta Sigma Phi embraces diversity and was founded by members of Jewish and Christian faiths, Hockman said.
"Any member within our group who contradicts our stated values or beliefs will not be welcome," he said.
Auburn University officials vowed to aggressively pursue the investigation. They say due process and other rights must be observed, although the images are in front of them.
"It's a process required of any student organization, so they've got rights to explain their position," said James Bowers, a university spokesman. "We're just trying to be fair all around."
AU site shows racist images
By Ken L. Spear
Montgomery Advertiser
Racist images on the Internet led to the suspension Monday of all members of two Auburn University fraternities, officials reported.
The suspensions of about 185 students stem from sets of offensive Halloween party photos. White boys in blackface. A hooded Ku Klux Klansman holding a noose around the neck of a mock Negro. Some in the photos sported Afro wigs, stocking caps, bulky jewelry and jerseys of Omega Psi Phi, a prominent black fraternity.
University leaders suspended Delta Sigma Phi and Beta Theta Pi members pending a full investigation of apparent violations of the university's written policy on harassment and discrimination.
Also, the university withdrew its recognition of the fraternities. Other disciplinary action is possible.
The national offices of the fraternities are probing the two incidents.
"Thirty-seven years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, there is no acceptable explanation for the appearance of students in Ku Klux Klan robes or blackface," said Wes Williams, vice president for student affairs at Auburn.
Officials say the parties occurred Oct. 25 and 27 at the campus fraternity houses, which are university properties leased to the organizations.
Calls made to the fraternity houses were unanswered.
Members of Omega Psi Phi fraternity were alerted Sunday evening about the images, which first appeared on the partypics.com Web site administered by Village Photographers of Auburn.
Omega President Octavius Walton said fraternity members copied the photos and linked them to the Omega Psi Phi Web page to make a case with university administration.
"We knew it would be a problem trying to prove it. We had to have evidence," Walton said. "It's not what you can say, but what you can prove."
Black students alerted the administration that the stereotypical portrayal and the unauthorized use of the Omega jerseys constitute serious concerns.
"We're just going to handle it rationally. We're looking for the severest punishment possible," Walton said. "And if they don't (receive that), we'll seek higher means.
Walton said an apology won't be enough.
"It's like 2001, and it's still going on. They need more than just a pat on the wrist," Walton said.
Allen Patterson, general manager of Village Photographers, said the university's action may be too drastic.
"There were a few people who used bad judgment," Patterson said. "It's unfortunate that the entire fraternity would be penalized due to the indiscretion of a few members."
Patterson pulled the photos off the partypics.com Web site following a sequence of Monday morning calls.
"After looking at them, I felt they needed to be removed," he said. "At this point, some may go back up."
Meanwhile, Delta Sigma Phi's national office is appalled.
"The images we have seen are deplorable and completely contradictory to our fraternity's values and beliefs," said Jon Hockman, executive director of the Delta Sigma Phi national office in Indianapolis.
Delta Sigma Phi embraces diversity and was founded by members of Jewish and Christian faiths, Hockman said.
"Any member within our group who contradicts our stated values or beliefs will not be welcome," he said.
Auburn University officials vowed to aggressively pursue the investigation. They say due process and other rights must be observed, although the images are in front of them.
"It's a process required of any student organization, so they've got rights to explain their position," said James Bowers, a university spokesman. "We're just trying to be fair all around."
