An Arizona State University fraternity has been suspended for throwing a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in which guests dressed in racist costumes, sporting jerseys while flashing gang signs and drinking from watermelons.
The party, coined by the Arizona State chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon as the “MLK Black Party,” took place on Sunday, according to civil right leader Rev. Jarrett Maupin. Maupin, himself, learned of the party from an African-American student who attended and is now calling for ASU to act towards expelling the students involved.
Maupin says, “I don’t think this was a sense of ignorance, I think it was purposeful and intentionally hurtful and they put into play, quote ‘MLK Black Party’ and not in a way to honor King.”
This incident comes less than a month after the TKE’s reinstatement at ASU, following a fight with a rival fraternity that left one student injured. In an email to Daily Mail’s MailOnline Tuesday, Alex Baker, a spokesperson for TKE, said that the organization is aware of the alleged MLK party. ASU spokeswoman Sharon Keeler issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, telling MailOnline that ASU had no idea the party was being thrown and that the event “was held off campus.” She continued, writing: “ASU has suspended chapter operations, can and will take additional action against the individuals involved.”
It’s unfortunate that ASU, which Keeler claims has one of the most diverse campuses in the nation, could stand to have their public image tainted by immature and racist students seeking a few giggles on Instagram!
[Images: Instagram/Daily Mail]