Fraternity party is sad lesson in racism

Indianapolis Star ^ | Nov. 10, 2001 | Cynthia Tucker

[Quilla]

My alma mater -- already struggling with slashed state funding, meddling, megalomaniacal trustees and a demoralized faculty -- now has a racial controversy on its hands. In late October, members of two white fraternities, Delta Sigma Phi and Beta Theta Pi, celebrated Halloween with elaborate, racist tableaux.

[Quilla]

Can you say "redneck"?

[Jonathon Spectre]

It amazes me that people, even near-children like these "dolts", would so brazenly display their utter ignorance and shamelessness at a public or semi-public function. A better punishment would be to make them walk in those costumes through downtown Mobile and see how "funny" they think such disgusting shenanigans are after they get done picking the caps out of their asses.

Oh, and there's nothing wrong with the Confederate flag.

[Dan De Quille]

That would not have happened 25 years ago, when the Kappa Alpha fraternity still held an annual Old South Day parade down a main street of the Alabama university town, with its members dressed in Confederate uniforms, girls dressed in hoop skirts

I wonder why? Political Correctness, perhaps?

[Quilla]

I'm from Alabama and attended Auburn (although, frankly, I've never heard of these two particular frats) some years ago. I am sad to report that racism is alive and well here.

[Fzob]

But the incident is also a striking reminder of the reasons why traditionally white universities have a hard time recruiting African-American students. It's not that black kids are too dumb to get in, as many critics of campus diversity efforts seem to think.

Instead, black students show a healthy skepticism toward attending college on a campus where they would have to endure overt racism of the sort displayed by the dolts of Delta Sigma Phi and Beta Theta Pi.

These dolts are really just ignorant a$$holes of the worst kind, but the author throws a curve at the end of this piece. This was not overt racism, this was hidden racism that got found out. It has nothing to do with campus diversity efforts. And even less to do with why to many black students have a difficult time meeting entrance requirements.

[Quilla]

I wonder why? Political Correctness, perhaps?

I considered the KA's to be gentlemen (who consumed large quantities of beer, but, hey this was college) who were proud of their southern heritage. If I remember correctly, they had a cannon in their front yard and Old South Day was a beautiful celebration of southern culture.

[Zipporah]

I doubt these guys were actually KKK.. IMO they were mocking with the Hallween costumes.. attempting to be 'edgy'.. what they are .. is really stupid.

[shuckmaster]

I suppose the PC police will supply the sheeple with a list of goverment approved halloween costumes in time for next years holiday.

[Quilla]

I suspect that the majority of racism is hidden, thereby preventing the above-mentioned 'cap in the ass'.

I recall attending an elaborate masquerade party at a girl friend's elegant home in Montgomery, Alabama about 20 years ago. Three fellows apparently thought they were cute in their KKK outfits. They happened to enter through the kitchen, where the hostess' staff of three black ladies were stationed. I was in the kitchen at the time and saw the looks on these ladies' faces. It was horrible. My girl friend's father escorted the three men to the door and they were well lectured before being asked to leave the premises.

[bassmaner]

What a load of P.C. crap. These frat boys were just having a little fun, and let's face it: they were lampooning racist stereotypes, not celebrating them.

I'll bet, though, that the author has no problem with the real racism spewed by black traitors such as Malik Shabazz and Louis Farrakhan. Oh, wait, only patriotic white Christians can be racist -- sorry.

[AppyPappy]

In late October, members of two white fraternities, Delta Sigma Phi and Beta Theta Pi, celebrated Halloween with elaborate, racist tableaux.
Some dressed as Ku Klux Klan members lynching blacks (fraternity members in blackface). Other white frat boys donned blackface, Afro wigs, heavy gold necklaces and shirts inscribed with the Greek letters Omega Psi Phi to mock members of Auburn's oldest black fraternity.

I wonder how the writer knows this?

[OldFriend]

Nothing done or said on a college campus should surprise anyone. Between the leftist out of touch professors and the idea that EVERYONE must go to college this is exactly what is to be expected.

[eno_]

Sorry, these guys went way over the line in bad taste. What's next? Concentration camps? It isn't the KKK thing, it's the total lack of judgement.

Oh and the same goes for all those bogus Moslem "students" in this country "celebrating" 9/11. Ship 'em home to their hairy mothers. Idiocy is idiocy no matter what color.

[Quilla]

Because the brilliant ones chose to do the following:

The faux-KKKers had hired a photographer, who posted the photos on a Web site so the merry pranksters could easily order snapshots online. Needless to say, news of the Web site spread quickly.

[cardinal4]

Auburn?In Alabama?Racism?Naaaaaaah.

[mlocher]

can you say redneck?

redneck is a term that refers to a farmer's sunburn around their neck for being outside all day tending to their crops. it is a term that is too good for these idiots.

can you say jail time?

[foreverfree]

I find this KKK fraternity prank deplorable too, in my heart and my mind. Nor do I care for the NOI/BP/NBP way of thinking.

FYI Ms. Tucker writes for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, not the Indy Star. But I wouldn't be surprised to have the Star run her column, because didn't the Star get sold by the conservative Pulliams to the liberal Gannetts last year?

foreverfree (a white dude who's lived on both sides of Mason Dixon)

[yawningotter]

This is nothing more than a bunch of stupid frat boys who think that they can do anything they want because of some greek letters. They will still be children when they get out of college. Actually, instead of blackface, the frat boys should have had someone dressed up as Bobby Lowder(the megalomaniacal trustee that is ruining the school)being lynched.

[foreverfree]

Actually, instead of blackface, the frat boys should have had someone dressed up as Bobby Lowder(the megalomaniacal trustee that is ruining the school)being lynched.

Talk to us, especially those who have never been to the heart of Dixie.

foreverfree