The University community on Wednesday asked the administration to take action against racial insensitivity on campus and wanted to know when organizers of an alleged "ghetto" fraternity party would be punished.
The diversity dialogue, hosted by the Division of Diversity and Community Involvement in the George I. Sanchez building, was organized in response to claims of an alleged party encouraging students to dress as minority stereotypes, said Deb Duval, spokesperson for the division. More than 100 students attended the dialogue.
"There is no place for foolishness and intolerance on this campus," said Gregory Vincent, vice president for diversity and community engagement. "We as a campus community should not tolerate this and should take affirmative steps to make sure it doesn't happen."
During the discussion, pictures were shown of people at a party dressed up in traditional Mexican attire, wearing sombreros and drinking Mexican beer. The photographs were from a different party than the one that led to the discussion. Administrators passed out lists of common stereotypes and asked students to pair them with the associated ethnic group.
Some students expressed discomfort in looking at the stereotype list and others found it funny. Though students recognized the typecasts quickly, no one eagerly raised his or her hand to say the accompanying ethnic group.
Vincent encouraged students to "make it very uncomfortable for people who think it's cute to engage in inappropriate behavior."
Engineering freshman Mark Mendiola said he sees two perspectives on the issue. He said though he believes no ill-intent was implied by the alleged party, he does take offense to its theme.
"It assumes all Mexicans are ghetto," he said.
Amy Chapa, an undeclared freshman, said though administrators made good points at the talk, the issue seems blown out of proportion. She said she did not believe the party was intended to be discriminatory.
Many in the audience called for the administration to punish those responsible, but doing so may be difficult, said Michele Guzman, assistant vice president in the division of diversity and community engagement.
"We may not have an avenue for punishment, but that doesn't mean there won't be intervention or consequences," Guzman said.
Martha Compton, assistant director of student judicial services, said every campus deals with controversial topics.
"The issue here is trying to find the balance between free speech and civility," Compton said.
While the division is investigating the claims, no details have been confirmed, Duval said.
"We don't know whether the party happened," Duval said, "but it has happened in the past, and we want to be proactive about the issue."
The controversy first surfaced in a Firing Line published in The Daily Texan on Sept. 28, when Hindi and biology senior Natasha Raheja wrote that she learned of the alleged party while working at a campus clothing sale. A shopper told her the clothes he bought were to make a "ghetto Mexican" costume.
Chicano activist group Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlan, or MEChA created a petition directed at President William Powers two days later, asking that the party not take place and for the unknown fraternity to be reprimanded.
Naomi Caballero, a member of MEChA, said the dialogue is a step in the right direction toward establishing a forum where students can meet with the administration and voice their concerns.
"You can make as little a deal about it or as big a deal as you want," said Caballero, an anthropology sophomore. "Either way, it's racism."
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