Arizona State Fraternity Hosts MLK Party

An Arizona State University fraternity has been suspended following their “MLK Black Party.” Party goers that attended the off-campus Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) event uploaded pictures online...
Arizona State Fraternity Hosts MLK Party
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  • An Arizona State University fraternity has been suspended following their “MLK Black Party.” Party goers that attended the off-campus Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) event uploaded pictures online of guests wearing stereotypical clothing and flashing gang signs. The party has left many outraged, and civil rights leaders are threatening to boycott the university if members of the fraternity that organized the party aren’t expelled.

    “Just a day after the nation celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., racism has reared its head at one of the America’s largest universities,” said local activist Reverend Jarrett Maupin. “It’s unbelievable that in 2014, young, white, obviously educated individuals are partaking in these kinds of actions.” Maupin says that if ASU doesn’t expel some of the students involved in the party, then the university, including its athletics programs, will be boycotted.

    Arizona State was quick to suspend the fraternity. Prior to the MLK party, TKE was on probation for a number of issues, including an instance where TKE members went into a rival frat house and attacked some of its members. As a result of the probation, TKE wasn’t supposed to host any parties. The university released a statement on the incident and indicates that action may be taken against individuals involved in the party:

    Tau Kappa Epsilon has been on disciplinary probation with the university since 2012. The party TKE held last weekend was not held on campus and was not a sanctioned university event. Because of the latest incident, ASU has suspended chapter operations, can and will take additional action against the individuals involved, and is meeting with the national TKE organization today to take further action against the chapter. ASU has one of the most diverse student bodies of any major university in the country, and it is unfortunate that a few misguided individuals held an offensive party at a time when ASU, the state and the nation are celebrating Dr. King’s achievements and legacy.

    Do you think the students involved in the MLK party should be expelled from the university? Add your comments below.

    While many ASU students are quick to call the party a disgrace, they also point out that the students at the party make up a very small part of Arizona State’s student population. With more than 75,000 students, the university has the highest enrollment in the country. Approximately 100 guests attended the offensive party.

    Check out pictures from the MLK party below.

    Image via Twitter

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