INTOLERABLE

(UWIRE) – AUBURN, Ala. – When Thomas Sullivan, a brother of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, opened his e-mail Sunday night, he never anticipated the controversy that was about to unfold.
Neither did the brothers of Beta Theta Pi or Delta Sigma Phi fraternities when they dressed in what has been called racist attire during Halloween socials on Oct. 25 and 27, and posed for routine party pictures with a hired photographer.
The photos included members of Beta dressed in Omega jerseys and another man wearing overalls and a straw hat; each had their faces and bodies painted black.
Photographs from the Delta Sig function included a brother dressed in Klan attire and a brother clothed in mock FUBU—a popular line of African-American clothing—with a noose around his neck. Various members of the fraternity posed holding rifles to the “black” man, and a mock hanging was performed for the camera.
“I really can’t say the first thing that ran through my mind,” said Sullivan, an Omega brother and a sophomore in rehabilitation services, who received the pictures in an E-mail. “I thought, ‘I can’t believe this. What were they doing with our frat shirts on?’”
Sullivan contacted other members of his fraternity, and the pictures were quickly placed on the fraternity’s Web site for member’s benefit.
“We kind of took it personally when we saw students who had made a mockery of us,” said Octavious Walten, president of Omega Psi Phi.
“The incidents at these two Halloween parties were potentially, and to me certainly, offensive and racist,” said Wes Williams, vice president for Student Affairs, during a Nov. 5 meeting of the Black Student Union. “There is no acceptable explanation for the wearing of Klan costumes or blackface.”
Now, as cameras and reporters flock to campus, what started as a Halloween costume party has escalated into a media circus that began during the BSU meeting and has continued through the week. Some have suggested the incident is part of a larger problem plaguing the University.
With multiple investigations pending, Auburn awaits the outcome of the events of those nights and the photographs telling the story that may otherwise have never been told.
Let the Punishment Fit the Crime
“I was outraged, absolutely outraged,” said Tim Ardillo, deputy executive director of Delta Sig’s national headquarters, in reference to the photographs. “This is not something our national organization will stand for.”
Delta Sigma Phi was founded in 1899 by a group of Christian and Jewish students. The fraternity’s Auburn chapter had one black member, Andre Bennett, in 1995, and a member of Indian background, Vipul Patel, in 1998. Ardillo said diversity is something the fraternity prides itself on.
In addition to charges of racial discrimination, Delta Sig may face additional charges because the events in question may also have contributed to underage drinking and possible possession of assault weapons on University property. All these are violations of University policies.
Because of the brothers’ actions, its national headquarters in Indianapolis has suspended the Auburn chapter of Delta Sig, and two offending members have been expelled.
Beta Theta Pi’s Auburn chapter was also been suspended by its national chapter on Tuesday and will remain suspended until an investigation is completed.
Beta’s nationals about how the offending parties will be reprimanded have made no decision.
The University, which temporarily suspended both fraternities Monday, is uncertain what further actions it will take and is awaiting the result of a pending investigation. Interim President William Walker said he hopes to see a conclusion by the end of next week.
“When there is outrage, there is the urge to distribute judgement quickly,” Walker said Tuesday. “We need to find out all the facts.”
However, some students are worried the punishment will not fit the crime.
“While the two people in the pictures display themselves in this horrible manner, this does not represent the views of our members,” Furin said.
Others were in doubt.
“I saw those pictures, and y’all were having a good time,” said Carr Turk, a white student in attendance at the meeting. “Y’all aren’t sorry that y’all did it. Y’all are sorry that you got caught.”
History Repeating
On Oct. 27, 1998, exactly two years prior to this year’s incident at Delta Sigma Phi, two black students had just left a poetry reading at Pebble Hill. While driving down Magnolia Avenue past the Pi Kappa Alpha house, the students saw two men dressed in Ku Klux Klan robes.
Five students total were dressed in Klan attire, and they were placed on social probation by their local chapter with no other consequences.
The incident received minimal media attention and the University was accused by some of sweeping the offense under the rug.
“(The Pike) incident could portray Auburn as a racist community,” Grant Davis told The Plainsman on Feb 11, 1999, in response to this allegation. Davis was then assistant vice president for student life.
“I do not believe Auburn is a racist community,” Davis said.