Not a fan of DTD Mekong Delta parties

[hoosier]

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/medi...exanonline.com

A letter to the U TX newspaper:

A word on war parties

Just north of campus on San Jacinto lies the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, currently extensively decorated in bamboo, sandbags and barbed wire. In front a sign proclaims "Mekong." Oh, I get it. The Delta Tau Delta's are going to party like they're U.S. GI's in the Mekong Delta. How quaint!

Am I to imagine that they'll dress in fatigues and ask their female guests to re-enact a scene from Full-Metal Jacket (a prostitute saying "Me love you long time")? Perhaps they'll invite Southeast Asian students to the party? Why not? They wouldn't find it offensive, would they?

In fact, it turns out that it's a tradition of the national fraternity that each year the chapters hold a Vietnam War-themed party. The TCU DTD Web page explains that this is a cherished tradition, "thrown in honor of former Delts who suffered in the Vietnam War at the Mekong Delta."

Just asking, but is decorating a frat house in bamboo and barbed wire, running around in fatigues, and drinking beer an authentic show of support to Vietnam Vets? The yellow ribbon on their wall says "Support Our Troops." Were they serious, they could give their time to the VA (http://www1.va.gov/volunteer/) or give their decorations fund to wounded vets (http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/).

If only there were a way to support the troops that didn't make me lift a finger. ... How about this: Show your solidarity with the troops by spending the weekend sober and celibate. See, servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan have General Orders prohibiting alcohol and extra-marital sex. Not much of a party, huh?

Here's the rub: I take offense that they're celebrating a war. Will there be My Lai Massacre Mai Tais? It does sound tasteless and offensive, right?

Dressing up in cammies and prancing around behind sandbags tells me how little they understand what war means. There are consequences; people die or are mutilated, there are physical and psychological scars. And they're having a party about it? You celebrate the end of a war, the end of the destruction, but I see these being overlooked and instead a mockery made of what veterans experienced and the hell that was visited upon Southeast Asia.

If this is their way of saluting the troops for their sacrifices, as a combat veteran (of a current war) I feel justified in returning their salute with one finger.

Tim Riley
Public Affairs graduate student

[NebraskaDelt]

It's sad to see that some chapters are still doing this type of social event. Unfortunately, this article (and the website it seems to cite) give wrong information.

Mekong Delta parties are not traditions of the national fraternity. The national organization has been trying to stop chapters from throwing this party for as long as I've been a Delt and I'm sure they were telling chapters to stop a long time before I was around.

The quote that the party is a tribute to veterans would be laughable if it were not tragic and unfortunate. It sounds like an excuse for this chapter to hold such an event. And from experience, it tends to continue for lack of information and pushing from certain alumni who don't have respect for the events that took place.

I can tell you that Delt chapters are told every year to not hold this event, along with several others that have been scrutinized over the years (Delts in your mouth, not in your hand) (Get your heart on).

I'm not sure what the punishment is for throwing these types of parties but the national office should know about it so that they can deal with these chapters who offend so many people, but also disgrace my great fraternity.

[ilikehazing]

I'm pretty sure that's the most brokeback theme for a party i have ever heard.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by hoosier
In fact, it turns out that it's a tradition of the national fraternity that each year the chapters hold a Vietnam War-themed party.

Simply not true. There are no party themes that are "a tradition of the national fraternity."

That is not to say that there aren't themes used by a number of different chapters.

[frathole]

I've heard a lot more offensive.


Who cares, they're having a good time, leave them alone.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by frathole
Who cares, they're having a good time, leave them alone.

I don't recall any details, but I think there was at least one of our chapters who used this party theme and some of the stuff was pretty offensive to Asians in general and Vietnamese in particular -- not to mention women.

There's no place for that.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by ilikehazing
I'm pretty sure that's the most brokeback theme for a party i have ever heard.

Can we stop using brokeback as an adjective?? If you want to call something gay, call it gay.

[UNLDelt]

I'll also chime in to reiterate that it’s not a "national" thing.
My old chapter, Beta Tau at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln used to have a M*A*S*H themed party back in the day (not Mekong, but an 'army fatigues' party that was more associated with the TV show. Some guys would come as characters like Radar, Hawkeye, and Klinger...)
But recently the chapter started taking the week traditionally held for M*A*S*H week, where the house was decorated with a huge camouflage net over it, and created a philanthropy for the Friends of the Family Support Center at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha Nebraska. Instead of focus on a party, there's focus on rasing donations for the philathropy. The Delts have food, live band, an inflatable obstacle course, games, etc. and all the proceeds go to the Support Center that assists the families of military men and women currently on active service.
It's been great and has grown every year (I think they are on their 4th year now).

I'm also know that many other fraternities and chapters across the country have 'camo' parties, heck I even know of a chapter of a respected national sorority at Nebraska who had an army themed party. But having a party that just celebrates something like war is in very poor taste. Especially considering today's issues.
I'd hope that trends start moving away from things like that not, just for Delt chapters, but for all. And a pat on the back to Beta Tau for making something positive out of a negative situation.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
Can we stop using brokeback as an adjective?? If you want to call something gay, call it gay.

You are brokeback and gay.

-Rudey

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by Rudey
You are brokeback and gay.

-Rudey

Now, I'm pretty sure my husband could argue with you on that one.

-Alpha
--Every night.
---Sometimes twice.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
Now, I'm pretty sure my husband could argue with you on that one.

-Alpha
--Every night.

I could make a million jokes here. A million.

-Rudey

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by Rudey
I could make a million jokes here. A million.

-Rudey

Who's stopping you?

[Rudey]

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
Who's stopping you?

Who plays the role of Heath? You or your husband?

-Rudey
--Because it's brokeback, twice.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by UNLDelt
...a pat on the back to Beta Tau for making something positive out of a negative situation.

In this environment, that's what wins, what, seventeen or eighteen Hugh Shields Awards -- the highest award a Delt Chapter can receive.