Photographs from the party emerged on social media, showing party-goers with what looked like charcoal or blackface smudged on their faces and donning big lips and padded butts (seemingly in imitation of Kim Kardashian).
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The UCLA chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity is now under investigation for allegedly throwing a Kanye West-themed party that featured blackface and other racist costumes.
Fourth-year political science student Jaimeson Cortez, who has seen multiple photos and tweets from the party, said he expected the fraternity to be conscious of existing issues with campus climate and refrain from dressing up in ways he said culturally appropriated a subset of the UCLA community. They later complained to the administration.
Jerry King, vice chancellor for university’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, reportedly told the crowd of students Thursday – a few of whom held signs that said “our culture is not a costume” – that UCLA officials were working to address their concerns.
A Sigma Phi Epsilon representative said in a statement that the organization has “zero tolerance for racist behavior” and that the fraternity will work closely with the school to determine the facts. So it seems that Greek organizations are aware of the offense they cause, but just don’t care.
And, of course, people are voicing their opinions on Twitter. “When we say black Bruins matter, we really mean that our lives matter”.
“Sigma Phi Epsilon is investigating claims that its UCLA chapter hosted an inappropriately themed social event with Alpha Phi Sorority”, it stated. A few of our guests attended the event dressed as miners in reference to the Kanye West song “Gold Digger, ‘ but their attire had nothing to do with race”. I do not want to suggest that even though I view myself fundamentally as a person of color that I understand the pain that you as an African American might be going through. I don’t think that it’s everybody.
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According to the L.A. Times, the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity’s activities have been “temporarily suspended” as the national office investigates the situation.
