KA's Omicron Chapter Suspended following allegations of racial insensitivity

[Kevin]

Daily Texan
University of Texas, Autsin
February 11, 2003, Tuesday

Texas fraternity loses charter following racism allegations

By Lauren Reinlie, Daily Texan

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, a University of Texas-Austin 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 anyother 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.

(C) 2002 Daily Texan

[Kevin]

Austin American Statesman
February 11, 2003, Tuesday

Photos spark UT fraternity inquiry
Two chapters under scrutiny for party costumes seen as racially offensive

Erik Rodriguez, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

The University of Texas is investigating the Phi Gamma Delta and Kappa Alpha fraternities for hosting parties in which fraternity members and guests were photographed wearing costumes considered offensive to African Americans.

UT Dean of Students Teresa Graham Brett said she began investigating the fraternities after students came forward Friday with photos of partygoers wearing satirical costumes of rappers with exaggerated features. On Monday, officials with Kappa Alpha's national office said they have suspended the UT chapter's charter and are conducting their own investigation. "We find
that offensive, and if it occurred, it definitely would be a violation of our laws and customs," said Todd Shelton, a national Kappa Alpha spokesman.

The investigation marks the most recent problem for fraternities on the UT campus and the latest in a series of racially charged incidents over the past several weeks. Some students say the incident is an example of growing tensions on campus.

Administrators note that such hot-button issues as affirmative action and a possible war in Iraq -- students are planning a walkout Wednesday -- also may be prompting more passionate reactions from students.

Captions on the fraternity photos, included in an e-mail from UT students to media outlets, indicated they were taken at Halloween 2002 parties and at a party Jan. 31.

In one picture, a white man is covered in black paint, wearing a thick chain with a padlock around his neck Its alumni include Confederate Civil War Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Brett said that it's too early to know what action, if any, will be taken against Kappa Alpha, but noted that the disclosure of the photos is bad for the UT community.

"It adds to a negative environment on campus," she said. "It heightens the racial tensions of a number of incidents that have taken place."

In January, the Martin Luther King Jr. statue and several buildings. "This is someone who has jurisdiction over us. He can arrest us."

UT Police Chief Jeffrey Van Slyke said the ID checks are standard procedure for anyone on the third, fourth or fifth floors of the Union and that police have stepped up patrols in light of recent reports of vagrants and thefts at the facility.

"The officer was just trying to do his job," said Van Slyke, who noted that by August, all UT police officers will have at least 32 hours of training on racial profiling. "We do it regardless of what race or gender you are."

Other students said they were angry because they said UT police had refused to provide security for an upcoming "Soul Night" event sponsored by the Multicultural Information Center. Van Slyke said the department was spread thin but has found a way to staff the event.

"The tension, I believe, is a culmination of a lot of issues that are
occurring," Van Slyke said. "Everybody's tense."

Brett said affirmative action debates at UT and the University of Michigan -- whose affirmative action admissions policies are before the Supreme Court and under fire from the Bush administration -- may be creating an atmosphere of tension.

"In many ways, these incidents really do highlight what's under the surface that people don't talk about," she said. "Perhaps there is a way we can use the energy that's come from these events to create some much more positive dialogue."

Copyright 2003 The Austin American Statesman

[adduncan]

Dude, there's already a thread on this, including the first article.



Adrienne

[adduncan]

KA was exhonorated.
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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.”