More problems with party costumes; is a watermelon offensive?
 

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.

Re: More problems with party costumes; is a watermelon offensive?
 

DAMN :eek: ....undeclared as a JUNIOR!!??! :confused:
Maybe he should be worrying about STUDYING more and partying less. :o Looks like to me there are bigger problems with that chapter than watermelon T-shirts, however inappropriate. :o

I like watermelon.

Now, wait, I think CONTEXT is everything. AEPi here uses the watermelon as their local mascot, and I never once thought it offensive when the giant watermelon showed up at one of their parties.

watermelon?
 

I don't get it? call me ignorant :confused:

precious25....

The iconic "watermelon-eating darkie" is an image/stereotype that was associated with African Americans through black face minstrelsy. It is an image that many African Americans might consider insensitive in a certain context. For example, a black person simply eating a piece of watermelon PROBABLY has no social implications for a white person witnessing the act. However, because of the consciousness (and double-consciousness) of the black people who are familiar with the stereotype, the image is a troubling one.

In this situation, I think the watermelon is troublesome because it seems to have been associated with black culture particularly, reinforcing, whether intentional or not, a stereotype that is associated with black face minstrelsy.

Hope that helps.

That did help, thanks!

Why???
 

Situations like this is why there needs to be diversity training in schools. Diversity training does not mean you HAVE TO LOVE other races and ethnicities, just understand what people have gone through to make it in this country. For example, when many uneducated Irish people came over because of the potato famine they could only get low-wage jobs and lived in slums. Now, if I decided to have a party and have people dress up as poor Irishmen, talking with a bad Irish accent and acting like they are begging for potatoes, then some might consider that to be racist. There are many sterotypes we can all abuse.

What I consider sad when I hear about situations like this is that it seems like the only way White frat boys can have a good time is to make fun of other people, and that is just pathetic. :(

OK, help me understand this here.....

First, since none of us on this thread would want to be judged unfairly by people who don't know us, have never seen us, and without a hearing, we're not going to do this to anyone else.....right? (That whole "presumed innocent until..." thing gets to me. I should have been a lawyer.)

OK--from what I got from the article, the alleged photo said it was a picture of *a watermelon*, not an AfAm person eating a watermelon.

So--is watermelon now offensive by itself, yes or no?

I have floating candles in my kitchen shaped and scented like itty bitty little watermelon slices. Is this racist too? How far does the association go?

I really am trying to learn here, folks, so straight answers without personal attacks are appreciated.

Adrienne

Prejudism Indeed!!!
 

Oh darn it!!! I was just going to post as you. ;)

Okay, call me crazy (shut up!), but it's not the frickin' watermelon that's offensive in this scenario. I think that the person quoted in the article mis-spoke.

I love watermelon -- eat it several times a week, even in the company of white folks ;). Seeing a picture of watermelon or someone with a t-shirt with watermelon on it isn't going to offend me. However, if I see someone with an afro wig and face darkened so that they look "black", then yes, I'm going to feel put out and rightly so.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled lives.

adduncan,

The fraternity in question threw a "Gin and Juice" party which was said to "idolize rap music and popular culture icons."

The first concern, I believe, is to recognize that the fraternity was parodying urban, and therefore African American culture. Sure, parody is protected under the constitution, fine. But this chapter, which I am assuming is mostly white, should examine the series of choices that lead up to the chapter agreeing that it was okay to parody African American culture.

The problem with the watermelon comes into play because it was used in a way that implied that watermelons were an important part of black culture, when in fact, the watermelon-eating African American icon is a symbol that was used to denigrate and subjugate black people.

It's not that watermelons are offensive....the association of watermelons with exclusively African Americans is a problem. And if the person was wearing a watermelon on his t-shirt at a party that was meant to parody African American culture, then that's a problem.

Another bunch of idiots...

dardenr, thank you for spelling out the issue so clearly. It was getting muddy there for a while and your response was very helpful.

IMHO, I think it's better to reserve judgement until there is an investigation. It is possible that the people photographed were not members of the respective GLOs--it's happened before. Years of reading college papers has taught me that a lot gets left out in the sound bites.

Hope everyone has a great (as in peaceful) day!

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
:D

The latest
 

This just in from a friend who is a KA alum.
Please notice the words "investigation", etc: that means, no conclusions have been drawn yet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
National office suspends Kappa Alpha

Fraternity loses charter following racism allegations

By Lauren Reinlie (Daily Texan Staff)
February 11, 2003

The Kappa Alpha Order's local Omicron chapter was suspended by the
organization's central office Monday, pending further investigation into
allegations of racist behavior at parties hosted by the fraternity.
The chapter was suspended after the KA national organization read in The
Daily Texan that some guests at a "Gin and Juice" theme party on Jan. 31
were alleged to have worn racially insensitive shirts. The Interfraternity
Council extended the suspension handed down by the national organization
located in Lexington, Va.

"All chapter activities are suspended until further notice," said Todd
Shelton, director of communications for the Kappa Alpha Order national
administrative office.

The fraternity house is closed to visitors but may remain open to
residents, he said. Social activities will not be allowed.

Shelton said the suspension is standard practice to prevent the
fraternities from continuing to commit possible violations. He said he was
not prepared to make a statement on what rules the fraternity might have
violated.

"Anything that was racially insensitive, that would be ungentlemanly-like
conduct, would not be appropriate of our members," Shelton said.

The charter will be suspended until the national organization can fully
investigate the allegations.

Onaje Barnes, an economics senior, filed complaints with Greek Life and
Education late Monday against Phi Gamma Delta and Kappa Alpha fraternities
for exhibiting harassment behavior at their parties.

"I think this is a step in the right direction," Barnes said. "I commend
the national organization."

Barnes said he plans to file complaints with Judicial Services as well as
present a complaint to the Dean of Students Teresa Graham Brett Tuesday at
the Retention and Recruitment Town Hall Meeting.

After a complaint is filed with the IFC, it goes before the Judicial Board,
which will investigate the complaint and determine whether the incident was
in violation of the IFC Code of Conduct.

Brett said she commends the suspension by the national chapter.

"I think the fact that they have acted quickly is important and sends an
important message," Brett said.

Brett said she is still investigating what actions can be taken against
both Kappa Alpha and Phi Gamma Delta on behalf of the University.

"I think it does not reflect well on the University," Brett said.
"Unfortunately, the actions of the students reflect on the entire
University community, though it is clearly the actions of a few."

Chris Eyhorn, president of IFC, said he plans to work closely with the
members of the other Greek councils in order to prevent incidents like
this. In addition, he said he will ask that presidents of fraternities
inform their members of the situation and make it clear that these
incidents will not be tolerated.

"Obviously, this is bad press," Eyhorn said. "When a bad situation happens,
it gets more press than a good situation. I think it reflects poorly, not
only on the Greek community, but the entire University."

The local chapter of Phi Gamma Delta is also alleged to have participated
in racist behavior. At their party on Oct. 31, someone wore black body paint.

Carl Ceder, president of the UT chapter of Phi Gamma Delta and a finance
senior, said his organization is not concerned with having their charter
revoked because he does not think they have committed an error.

"We are sorry that we are getting viewed in this light," Ceder said. "I
empathize with the situation, but we do not want to be lumped with any
other fraternities on campus. "

Ceder said the event was a Halloween party in which someone dressed as a
wrestling character.

"If we would have thought this was meant to be racially insensitive, there
is no question, we would have asked him to take it off," Ceder said. "This
was not a theme; it was not fraternity-sanctioned."

Tim Weaver, president of the KA Omicron chapter, did not return calls.

MAJOR UPDATE
 

KA Order was exhonorated of all charges of inappropriate conduct.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
KA National Office lifts suspension of UT at Austin chapter

(Lexington, VA.- February 14, 2003) - Officials at the Kappa Alpha Order National Administrative Office announced today they have completed an investigation of recent parties at Omicron Chapter at the University of Texas at Austin. According to an article in The Daily Texan, the university newspaper, some guests at the party may have been attired in racially insensitive shirts.

After meeting with members of the chapter and university officials, Kappa Alpha Order concluded that no laws or customs of the Order had been violated.

“The events held at the chapter house were not intended to be offensive,” said Larry S. Wiese, Executive Director. “If any mistake was made by the chapter, it was by not asking those guests who chose to wear possibly objectionable clothing to leave.”

Thanks for the update, adduncan!

I thought the watermelon party was a different one from the rap party.