Have Mixer Themes Gone Too Far??

[pinapple]

Would like to open discussion on this topic after this article ran in a local blog.

http://www.burntorangereport.com/dia...e-fiesta-party

As of Fall 2011, 20% of UT's student body is Hispanic. But that isn't stopping a couple of sororities from throwing a party chock full of racist stereotypes about Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.

Last night, two sororities, Zeta Tau Alpha and Delta Delta Delta, hosted their annual "Zeta-Tri Delt Fiesta Party" at Recess Bar on 6th street. They rented the bar out until 12:30p.m for their hundreds of guests, many of whom wore ponchos and other stereotypical Mexican garb of a bygone era.

Now, I don't believe that wearing tradition Mexican attire is inherently racist. But I do know that you have to be classy about it. Laying down some ground rules for attire would have been a much better step for the sororities, instead of encouraging hundreds of drunk Texas Greeks to parade around 6th street in clothing which suggests that this is what Mexicans and Mexican-Americans wear. Anyone who's been to a modern-day fiesta knows that this isn't how people dress.

Unfortunately, having no rules led these two sororities to host a party which also accepted, and obviously encouraged, outright racism. See the picture in this post, taken from the event. What the hell does an undocumented immigrant and a border patrol officer have to do with a fiesta party, which is supposed to be a celebration of Mexican-American culture? The "illegals" are clearly what some students thought this party was a referendum on. If you're not an "illegal" - a crude, dehumanizing term suggesting that a person's entire existence is defined by the status of their papers - then you're an ancient Mexican stereotype divorced from today's society. This type of dress should absolutely have been banned by two sororities claiming to be stand-up members of the UT and Austin communities.

It's not that these two sororities are racist, nor that all their guests are. It's that there are bounds of reasons in everything - themed parties included. Your right to free speech doesn't mean others can't critique the way you use it. There are 600 undocumented UT students in the same community as these revelers and they should be able to expect respect from their Longhorn peers. In their efforts both to study on Texas's DREAM Act, while politicians debate ridiculously over a national DREAM Act, it's not right for them to have to put up with this public display of antipathy.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by pinapple

Would like to open discussion on this topic after this article ran in a local blog.

http://www.burntorangereport.com/dia...e-fiesta-party

I'm curious what the article's author thinks WOULD have been appropriate attire for this type of party. It seems like once you have a fiesta theme, the odds of being offensive are pretty high.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I'm curious what the article's author thinks WOULD have been appropriate attire for this type of party. It seems like once you have a fiesta theme, the odds of being offensive are pretty high.

For the most part, I think wearing ponchos, sombreros, red/white/green, mariachi costumes, or even something like the iconic (in Latin culture) purple sparkley catsuit-type outfit that Selena made famous would be appropriate choices for a Fiesta-themed party IN GENERAL. Now, when you add in alcohol and 18-22 year olds, there's no way it's not going to "go there". Basically, limit your "fiesta" theme to serving tacos and margaritas and some genric decorations and call it a day. I would also advise against piñatas, for the fact of drunk people being told to swing a large stick blindfolded is not going to end well.

[pinapple]

I am curious if anyone feels Panhellenic should consider guidelines as to mixer themes to keep bad press like this from occurring? The stereotypes are hard enough to fight without throwing fuel on the fire. Opinions?

[angels&angles]

Seeing this reminded me that my sorority did a "Phi-esta" mixer. It was after my time, but god bless Facebook, so I went and looked at the pics. No boys were pictured (because it was for our official fb page) but all the costumes I saw were just colorful ponchos, peasant blouse type stuff. I think a group dressed up as a mariachi band. On the other hand, we always were known as the "boring" "lame" group--I guess non-racism is boring and lame. Chi O always did a "Cinco De Chi O" but I think it was more of a formal and I don't remember any rampant racism there. So it can be done.

On the other hand, Panhel had to ban the "____ and ____ Hos" mixers ("Bass Pros and Fishing Hos" "Tennis Pros and Country Club Hos"), because, Yikes. So instead it was a "Fishing" mixer and a "Country Club" mixer, and everyone wore whatever they were going to wear anyway. Sometimes college kinds make me --but I also remember getting outraged over the "ho" ban...

[33girl]

Originally Posted by pinapple

I am curious if anyone feels Panhellenic should consider guidelines as to mixer themes to keep bad press like this from occurring? The stereotypes are hard enough to fight without throwing fuel on the fire. Opinions?

You can twist any theme to make it raunchy. Trust me.

Panhel has other things to worry about that they could maybe actually enforce.

[IUHoosiergirl88]

I'm sure every person here had some mixers with themes that would probably be considered rather un-PC.

I've learned that no matter what age and no matter the occasion or rules, if women want to dress like skanks, they will do so.

[GeorgiaGreek]

Originally Posted by 33girl

You can twist any theme to make it raunchy. Trust me.

Panhel has other things to worry about that they could maybe actually enforce.

Agreed. No matter what you name the theme, there will always be girls who want to wear, as Mean Girls describes it, lingerie and animal ears, and there will always be guys who wear something crude/tasteless that they think is funny. It should be the job of the sorority, not Panhellenic, to make sure their members and their guests act appropriately, and if they can't do so, ask them to leave.
I know for a fact that Panhellenic at my school has made the theme of an event be changed (or, rather, reworded), but there's no way they can police every event with a theme that may invite some sort of inappropriateness from a handful of people.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I don't think women dressing provocatively is a problem. Grown-ass women can dress as they please. The problem is dressing in a manner that is offensive to a group like Mexicans. That's a whole different thing.

I don't think it's the CPH's job to make rules and enforce it, but I think it doesn't hurt to have some suggested guidelines. That avoids the sororities having to say "no" to a fraternity's suggestion and hear the ol' "you guys are so uptight, XYZ let us do a fiesta mixer".

[pinapple]

***Some offensive language in the quote...JUST WARNING YOU********

ATO is now canceling their "border crossing" mixer (what were they thinking?) because of bad press. An article was written in the Daily Texan (The University of Texas Newspaper) today and then "bacon" from Total Frat Move Blog posted this:

University of Texas TriDelts, Zetas, and ATOs Offend Easily Offended People with Fiesta Parties

by Bacon 3 hours ago
From The Daily Texan:

The party, put on by UT’s Delta Delta Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha sororities, was filled with party guests wearing attire associated with Hispanic stereotypes, including ponchos, sombreros and fake mustaches.

…

Since the night of the party, word of the event spread to members of the UT community, who have expressed various concerns about the party’s intent and message.

The party’s “intent” and “message” are concerning people? I’m going to take a wild guess and say that the intent and message were “to get really fucked up” and “hey let’s all get really fucked up,” respectively.

While Greek parties sometimes do have an intent beyond blackouts and bad decisions, like the pledge slave auction my house used to throw to raise awareness for child sex trafficking, that “intent” pretty much never has to do with the theme. For example, “If It Ain’t Neon It Shouldn’t Be-On” parties have absolutely nothing to do with raising money for ecstasy addicts who can’t afford clothes.

Also, according to my well placed sources (i.e. a girl who DM’d me about this), the TriDelt/Zeta theme party has been going on for years, so I seriously doubt that this thing was underground until this year when a few drunks wandered onto Sixth Street wearing colorful ponchos.

Throughout the night, comments from downtown patrons could be heard throughout Sixth Street as they reflected on the partygoers’ actions and attire.

I was on Sixth Street that night and don’t remember hearing a single complaint, but then again I wasn’t surrounded by assholes.

Bilingual education junior Luis Juarez said he was offended by the party, especially because of the apparel donned by two of the party’s guests.

“For people to go out with shirts that say ‘illegal’ or ‘border patrol,’ that’s very insensitive,” Juarez said.

Okay, okay I’ll admit, that’s sort of offensive. Funny, but legitimately offensive. I assume Juarez finds it offensive because immigration is a serious issue and many Mexican families are torn apart, lose loved ones, or have their lives ruined because of it.

“It’s an incorrect picture, and I’m very offended personally. ‘Undocumented’ is the way to go about it because whenever you say that someone is ‘illegal,’ you are describing them as an action.”

Oh, it was the specific labeling that was offensive. So it would’ve been cool if the shirt said “undocumented” instead? Take note, mildly racist party goers, you can be offensive all you want, as long as you’re doing it correctly.

By the way I feel like there was a real missed opportunity here on the part of the Zetas attending the party. How did thirty of you not go to the party dressed as members of the drug cartel Los Zetas!?! You could’ve carried around machetes, threatened the party goers dressed as innocent Mexican townsfolk, and maybe even have brought a piñata made to look like a Mexican journalist and chopped off its head. You know, just your general Mexican drug cartel stuff. MISSED OPPORTUNITY! There’s always next year…well, probably not.

Rocio Villalobos, program coordinator for UT’s Multicultural Engagement Center, said the party shows cultural insensitivity and a lack of awareness of other cultures on the part of the partygoers.

…

“I think this is an example,” Villalobos said. “It shows that there is a lot of awareness that needs to happen among the student body.”

Villalobos said she thinks the student body as a whole could benefit from initiatives such as cultural sensitivity and diversity training and a long-term discussion about racism and related issues.

The words diversity training literally make me sick to my stomach. I actually just rage vomited into my lap. Yes, that’s a thing, and I haven’t done it since Norfolk Sta… (*starts rage vomiting again*).

The words diversity training remind me of my days in the corporate world where the word “black” was so wildly offensive to the higher ups that you couldn’t even use it to describe the ink in your pen, let alone the new guy in accounting you wanted to recruit for the office basketball team. I think they had official meetings about using only blue ink pens so as to avoid the word black all together. If you didn’t put cream in your coffee they considered you a Level 2 racist at least. I used to watch black only porn on my computer during lunch just to reaffirm to them that I was a tolerant person. Don’t go corporate kids, ironically it’ll turn your soul black.

The only thing that’s a bigger waste of time than diversity training is, well, nothing. You know what’s more offensive than a racial slur? The fact that there are people that get paid (and when you’re a low level corporate peon, get paid MORE than you) to speak to you like you’re a fourth grader about shit you already know. I have seen with my own eyes diversity training coloring books…FOR ADULTS. At least when people are being racist they’re usually too stupid to be condescending. The only real thing diversity training accomplishes is to unite all the races of the world in a common hatred of diversity trainers. Wait, is that the secret genius of it?

Juarez said he also believes the student body would benefit from increased cultural training, but along with that initiative, he would also like to the see the sororities and partygoers apologize for their actions Thursday night.

“I feel like an apology is needed,” Juarez said. “I really think so.”

Zeta and TriDelt, don’t apologize. Please don’t. I know you’re probably going to have to, and I know some of you might have to sit through diversity training, and in that case my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your families, but if you can at all avoid it apologizing, AVOID IT. You know why? Because fuck what other people think. Holy shit, you wore sombreros and ponchos! You looked like the walls of a Chevy’s. HOW OFFENSIVE!

If a bunch of GDIs threw a Greek themed party where they all wore popped collars and had a jugs full of a beverage that they called “Rape Juice,” would we care? We shouldn’t. I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t give a fuck. If someone threw a Catholic themed party, where the girls dressed up like sexy nuns and school girls and the guys dressed as priests and made molestation jokes, as a Catholic I could again not give any less of a fuck. No fucks to give here. People have a right to be assholes. Just because I don’t agree with their mildly offensive behavior doesn’t mean I need to bitch and moan until I get an insincere apology.

The TriDelt and Zeta fiesta party isn’t the only Mexican themed party raising concerns among the portion of the UT student population with too much time on their hands. The ATO chapter at UT recently had to rebrand its “Alpha Tau Omega Presents Fiestau” party after complaints arose around a Facebook event page for the party. Apparently the party featured an event called “A Border to Cross,” which would have a border demarcation between the “Texas” side and “Mexico” side of the party.

…the fraternity planned to build an obstacle in the middle of the party to represent the border between the U.S. and Mexico, Nick Davis, petroleum engineering sophomore and co-organizer of the event’s Facebook page, said.

“Party guests would then have to cross that obstacle to get from the ‘Texas side’ of the party to the ‘Mexico side,’” he said.

…

“I mean, we’re going to have a Mexican side and a Texas side, with Mexican-themed drinks and then Texas-themed drinks,” he said. “We’re going to have a Mexican flag hanging up and kind of have a little party on the Mexican side. Then the band will be on the Texas side, and you can choose where you want to hang out, what kind of drink you want to get. That’s really the only reason we have that side.”

So it’s a “Shots Around the World” party but with only Texas and Mexico? If they threw Canada on the other side and served Molson would this cease to be offensive? HOW MANY COUNTRIES AND BORDERS DO THERE NEED TO BE!?! There has got to be better shit to complain about than this. I mean, did you SEE that Packers-Seahawks game?!?

Bilingual education junior Luis Juarez said he cannot describe how offended he is over the “a border to cross” event.

“I’m honestly speechless right now,” he said. “It’s totally negative, because they don’t know what people go through whenever they cross the border. For them to be having an event of that manner, I don’t even know. I’m outraged.”

Dude, David Maly, seriously find someone else to quote. Stop calling your one Mexican friend and getting stock “I’m offended” lines.

Here’s the bottom line: wearing sombreros and ponchos is not offensive. It’s just not. It’s harmless. The border stuff is midly offensive, but again, people have a right to act like assholes. You want to know what their punishment for that is? People will remember them and say “Oh, there goes that asshole, fuck that guy.” That’s how things work. Being forced to apologize and potentially sit through a lecture that’s less relevant to your everyday life than one in a “Harry Potter and Modern Religion” class accomplishes nothing and actually fosters resentment.

Instead of all that I highly encourage a Latino student group to throw a “Wine and Cheese” party where they all dress like stereotypical white people and pound Franzia (but please, not in your butts). Then we can all just laugh about this and force diversity trainers to get real jobs.

I have a feeling the relationships between GDIs and Greeks are headed downhill fast.

[LadyLonghorn]

I can't help but wonder if you'd be giving this so much attention on Greekchat and going out of your way to mention the sororities involved if it were your own chapter and not two Big Six chapters.

Isn't it against Greekchat policy to post all copy from another site even if it is cited? I don't think posting something from TFM is very appropriate.

[Kevin]

Perhaps if those chapters don't want to receive black eyes, they shouldn't do things to deserve them?

I kind of doubt TFM is going to be lodging a copyright complaint.

[pinapple]

It is obvious you are not currently on campus. This is a huge issue on campus (specifically west campus) right now. There is tension at every turn. People should be proud to be Greek. It comes with a specific responsibilty to not be down right stupid. These issues (I called out ATO also and last I checked they weren't part if the big six) are Greek wide, not isolated to two houses. The actions of these two chapters have blackened the eyes of all chapters. That's how GDIs see us..all or nothing. I didn't throw DDD and Zeta under the bus. They laid on a busy street and the carnage took care of itself. It even made the local news tonight in Austin. No one outside of the Greek community cares if these houses are part of what the blue hairs call the big six. They see them as Greeks and they group their ill behavior with the rest of the Greek community.

[LadyLonghorn]

Originally Posted by pinapple

It is obvious you are not currently on campus. This is a huge issue on campus (specifically west campus) right now. There is tension at every turn. People should be proud to be Greek. It comes with a specific responsibilty to not be down right stupid. These issues (I called out ATO also and last I checked they weren't part if the big six) are Greek wide, not isolated to two houses. The actions of these two chapters have blackened the eyes of all chapters. That's how GDIs see us..all or nothing. I didn't throw DDD and Zeta under the bus. They laid on a busy street and the carnage took care of itself. It even made the local news tonight in Austin. No one outside of the Greek community cares if these houses are part of what the blue hairs call the big six. They see them as Greeks and they group their ill behavior with the rest of the Greek community.

You're the one who brought it to Greekchat though and in doing so are bringing even more attention to it beyond campus and Austin. It's not a very Panhellenic thing to do, and I doubt you'd be bringing it here if it involved the chapter you advise. It appears that there's some Schadenfreude involved.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by LadyLonghorn

You're the one who brought it to Greekchat though and in doing so are bringing even more attention to it beyond campus and Austin. It's not a very Panhellenic thing to do, and I doubt you'd be bringing it here if it involved the chapter you advise. It appears that there's some Schadenfreude involved.

Wait, isn't the original source the student paper? People post things from student papers all of the time. I posted the one about Saban that involved my own group.