A fraternity at Arizona State University has been suspended after they threw an “MLK Black Party” Monday that offended many on and off campus.
Quote:
Photos from the party surfaced on social media showing Tau Kappa Epsilon’s white fraternity members and friends dressed in basketball jerseys, throwing up gang signs and drinking out of watermelons.
“I think this represents the ignorance that still exists today,” Kaajal Koranteng, a senior at ASU told Fox 5. “This is just one example of the kind of things that occur here.”
The photos included hashtags that read #mlkparty, #watermeloncup, #hood, #blakcoutformlk and #ihaveadream.
School officials have reportedly suspended the greek organization while they investigate the incident. No member from the fraternity has spoken to local reporters, however, representatives of TKE’s national organization have been notified and are meeting with school officials Tuesday.
“We are aware of the situation. We have been contacted and we have been in contact with the local chapter and the university,” Patrick Gleason, the director of Compliance and Housing for the national organization, told Fox 5.
The school’s TKE chapter was previously suspended for inappropriate conduct and were reinstated on campus in December.
“I think this represents the ignorance that still exists today,” Kaajal Koranteng, a senior at ASU told Fox 5. “This is just one example of the kind of things that occur here.”
It always intrigues me to see how all the "disappointed reaction" quotes from someone relevant to the story they use in articles like this NEVER include the term "racism" or "racist" or any reference to it. It's always "ignorance", or "stupidity" or "we need to educate people" but never "these people are RACIST as **** and demonstrate that RACISM is alive and well".
but the watermelon cup does look cool. I don't think they should be taken too seriously, despite being unintentionally (or maybe intentionally) disrespectful.
