Posted on 03/29/2008 12:35:24 PM PDT by RogerFGay
The Gamma Phi Beta sorority at University of North Dakota has been put on temporary social probation while the university investigates complaints stemming from a November party during which sorority members and their guests donned mock Indian garb and red face and body paint.
The temporary probation was issued by both the UND Dean of Students Office, which will investigate the complaints, and by the Gamma Phi Beta International office in Centennial, Colo.
The probation means Gamma Phi wont be allowed to host or participate in social activities with other sororities and fraternities or other student groups, either on or off campus, during the investigation, UND Dean of Students Lillian Elsinga said.
Photos from the November party show sorority members in Indian maiden-style dresses and feather headdresses. Some male guests are dressed in makeshift loincloths and smeared with red paint.
Elsinga wouldnt speculate on what, if any, penalty her office will recommend once the investigation is complete, but said, as dean of students, she did not condone the behavior be-ing described.
In a brief statement released late today, UND President Charles Kupchella gave his support to the investigation and said appropriate action will be taken at the conclusion of the review.
Gamma Phis central office also issued a statement today.
Gamma Phi Beta International Sorority sincerely regrets the recently-reported actions involving chapter members at the University of North Dakota. We realize that the actions of the chapter demonstrate the need for greater chapter education about diversity and personal dignity.
The Gamma Phi party first came to public attention late last week after Margaret Scott, an American Indian student who frequents UNDs American Indian Student Services house, found photos of the party on the Facebook site of Anastasia Ginda, the sororitys current president.
The American Indian Student Services House is next door to the Gamma Phi house.
Scott copied the photos onto her photobucket.com site and forwarded that link to an anti-nickname campus e-mail list.
The Herald also linked to Scotts photobucket site in its early coverage of the Gamma Phi party. Many of those photos have since been removed from the site and replaced with a note that they violated the sites user agreement.
About 10 American Indian students wrote an official discrimination complaint about the Gamma Phi party late last week, and that form was delivered to Elsinga this morning.
Between 50 and 60 discrimination or harassment complaints are filed at UND every year, covering a broad range of issues, Page said. Elsinga said it has been several years since a complaint was filed against a fraternity or sorority.
Calls made to Ginda and the sorority house since Friday have not been returned.
Why is it insulting to dress as an Indian? WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?
Good thing these PC police weren’t in Boston in 1775!
Help me out here ... I don't see any discrimination. Were Indians denied access to the fraternity? Denied jobs? Denied admittance to the school? Was there any discrimination at all?
Oh -- right! White people aren't allowed to wear that kind of outfit. Only Indians are allowed to dress like that. Indians are special. White people need to know their place and only wear "white people" clothing. Okay. NOW I see the discrimination.
I guess we should be insulted if Indians dress like non-Indian folk.....
Gee, I guess that let’s out the recognition of bravery and independent spirit of the Boston Tea Party.
I'm offended she is impersonating a human being, get a fricking life and stop being so faggy sensative.
Imagine how "sensative" B. Hussein Obama will force onto people through legislation "if" he is elected?
I bet they are now on double secret probation
Can’ decide on their guilt or innocence without photographic evidence....
I have no idea, as a person with a lot of American Indian bllod, I am not offended???
Get her back to the re-education reservation.
Fair is fair.
faggy?...faggy?...you can’t say “faggy”...in a few years you will face prison time for using that “hate” speech on a public forum...this is, if there are still public forums.
Did they all get drunk like Indians too??
I know, I know,
LORD I APOLOGIZE
About 10 American Indian students wrote an official discrimination complaint about the Gamma Phi party late last week....
Okay. Am I to assume that these '10 American Indian students' wear 'traditional American Indian' clothing on campus everyday or do they wear 'white man' clothes?
I respectfully submit that if indeed they do not wear traditional American Indian clothing everyday they should be expelled.
Substitute any other ethnic group and you may see why it is insulting. A look at the Thanksgiving greeting cards in November shows that we tend to single out Indians as acceptable objects of caricature.
Ugh.
YGTBSM!!!!
The idiots are running the asylum.
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