Flyer stirs controversy by alleging fraternity has racist pledge rules

Flyers advertising pledge "rules" for a UT fraternity circulated around campus early Tuesday morning, arousing suspicion, bringing confusion and shining new light on campus racial issues.

The unofficial document, intended to represent the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, known as FIJI, alleged several confidential pledge rules. Some of the rules were trivial in nature, like "Know Longhorn Football," but other rules implied blatant discrimination, including "No Mexicans."

Phi Gamma Delta President Coleman Easely, a Spanish senior, said the documents are libelous, insulting and do not represent the ideals of the fraternity.

"I think labeling an entire organization as racists is a terrible and harmful generalization," Easely said. "Any individuals who have ill feelings about the fraternity are invited to take the time to meet some of the members and see who they truly are."

Easely said the fraternity does not follow the flyer's "rules," adding that they were an ignorant prank. Easely countered the racist rules, including "No Mexicans," saying there are currently two Hispanic FIJI members.

The flyers were first spotted by Daily Texan newspaper distributors around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, and by sunrise, multiple copies of the document had been found posted on kiosks and newsstands.

Daniel Veliz, a theater and dance and radio-television-film senior, said he was walking to his class around 7 a.m. when he noticed the signs. At first he ignored the messages, but a highlighted rule that read, "No interracial dating" caught his attention, he said.

"How can racism still be so prevalent on campus. Obviously, the president's task force on racial tolerance isn't working," he said. "I felt ostracized."

English senior Adam Avramescu said he wasn't surprised to see the contents of the list, including rule seven stating, "No bikes or busses (walk to class!)"

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was a fake, I would hope that our fraternities would have the integrity not to make such ridiculous rules, but at the same time, I have heard [of] some extreme things happening during rush week," he said.

Associate Dean of Students Margarita Arellano would not comment on the flyers Tuesday, but said the office will review the complaints before making any judgements.

The Texas chapter of Phi Gamma Delta has had problems with racist incidents in the past, including distributing t-shirts with racist messages during a parade in April 1990. However, there are no recent disciplinary actions on record with the Office of the Dean of Students Web site.

By press time, members of the Greek community and offended individuals had taken down most of the flyers.

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