Article: Beta Sigma Chapter: Quad protest targets racial stereotyping

Quad protest targets racial stereotyping
Group lambasts ZBT, Tri Delts, hopes to get University's attention
Susan KantorPosted: 11/1/06

With signs reading "The fight is far from over" and "My culture is not a costume," hundreds of students filled the Quad side of the Illini Union this afternoon for a rally entitled "Breaking the Silence."

The rally was organized by Students Transforming Oppression and Privilege (STOP). The purpose was to get the University administration's attention regarding racist actions across campus that were exemplified in the Oct. 5 exchange between the Delta Delta Delta sorority and the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity unofficially dubbed "Tacos and Tequila."

"We are not attacking the Tri Delts or ZBT," said Wendy Marie Finley, member of STOP and junior in LAS. "We are attacking the system. We are just using them as an example."

Students spoke against the racist actions during the rally on the Quad before students walked to both the Tri Delta and ZBT houses chanting phrases such as "hey hey, ho ho, racism has got to go."

Tri Delta and ZBT representatives declined to comment.

"We have had enough," said Osvaldo Torres, sophomore in LAS and member of Lambda Theta Phi, a United Greek Council Latin fraternity, the Mexican Student Association. "We will no longer be disrespected on this campus. Our cultures will no longer be mocked. We will no longer be made fun of. We will no longer be told that we don't deserve to be here. And it all starts with one step. And that is unifying ourselves."

The rally ended at the Swanlund Administration Building, 601 E. John St., where a statement by Chancellor Herman was read by Renee Romano, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. "

The controversy has spurred a great deal of conversation about treating one another with common decency, and that is good," Herman said in his statement. "The process of reviewing the incident is now underway, and I believe a deeper appreciation of our cultural diversity and individual responsibility will be the result."

After Romano read the statement, some students asked why the administration did not speak on the Quad, what is going to be done to ensure minority students have a safe environment, why nothing was done last year when a "ghetto"-themed party occurred and what would have been the response if a multi-cultural Greek organization held a party of a similar nature.

"I want to assure you that we are listening, we care, and this incident does not reflect the University's values," Romano said. "We are working through our system. It's not happening quickly and many of you are not aware of what is going on."

Romano also said there are plans including diversity education for all first-year students and the administration is working hard to get these classes implemented by next fall.

Lisa Moore, assistant dean of students, said the University has not sanctioned Tri Delta or ZBT because the Board of Fraternity Affairs and the Board of Sorority Affairs was given the power to discipline when chapters violate policy.

"Everything ZBT and Tri Delta have done are self-imposed sanctions," Moore said.

Moore also said that although the event was unacceptable, there were no code violations in the student code. She said they will have to see when the hearing is scheduled.

Nora Garcia, member of Lambda Pi Upsilon, a United Greek Council sorority, and senior in LAS, said she was upset that ZBT and Tri Delta did not think it would be a racial stereotype. She said that the administration needs to be aware that the minority student population is fed up and does not plan to let these actions go unnoticed.

"It is time for a change," Torres said. "It is time for us to step back, to put our egos aside, to put our organizations behind us, to put our letters behind us, to step up together to unify ourselves and to stand up as one voice to speak out at this university."

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