After arguments, disapprovals and wounded hearts, the members of Arizona State University’s Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity apologized for their extremely racist actions on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The fraternity held a party they called “MLK Black Party,” where attendees dressed in basketball jerseys, baggy shorts, hoodies, bandanas and baseball caps, drank from cups made out of watermelons, and wrote cruel, derogatory and unforgiving comments on social media websites. The partygoers even posted photos on their Instagram pages with the hashtags #myboymartin, #hood, #killem, #ihaveadream and #blackoutformlk. Their disgraceful choices led to the suspension of the fraternity, but these immature students should face larger consequences. The fraternity, its members, and all other party participants should be expelled.To say that their actions brought up uneasy emotions would be an under statement. We are progressing in a society where racism is subsiding and these rude and heartless individuals brought all the wrong feelings back.
This fraternity has been notorious for countless other scandals that center on cruel behavior. In November 2012, TKE bullied members from an opposing fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon, showering them with verbal abuse. As a result, TKE was banned from participating or hosting parties. Well, evidently, TKE rebelled. University officials released a statement saying that the recent party was not held on campus and was not a sanctioned university event.
With intentions of putting the scandal to rest, the fraternity wrote on its Facebook page, “Sorry for the offensive and racially insensitive conduct in which a few members of our chapter recently engaged.”
If TKE members were truly remorseful for their actions, they would have done more than simply make a Facebook post to express their sincerity.
Sadly for TKE, their shameful choices sparked emotions that a simple apology will not repair. One of the most degrading actions someone can do is to mimic another individual’s race. There was nothing but pure hatred and viciousness behind the minds and actions of the participants in this scandal.
Even though TKE is taking responsibility for its actions, they aren’t the only ones who have been impacted by this scandal. ASU’s values, students, and reputation are now at risk and viewed apprehensively — especially because ASU is not taking the stand it should against the participants in this incident.
To emphasize this situation even more, the partygoers purposely chose MLK Day to dress and act in the way they did. MLK Day is not for discrimination or judgment; it is a time for unity and acceptance, and to honor the accomplishments of an American hero.
Damage has been done and serious consequences need to put into place. A simple suspension will not end the emotional violence the members of TKE portrayed. The Rev. Luther Holland Jr., an Arizona civil rights activist who spoke at a news conference about this event, said, “To allow the fraternity to continue is to allow students to make a mockery of African American people.”
Considering this, participants in this scandal should be expelled because of their horrific bullying behaviors, which left a lasting and damaging impression on countless individuals across the country. Expulsion of everyone affiliated with the party is a much more serious punishment than simply suspension of the organization. If students worldwide witnessed these participants being expelled, they would come to the realization that mockery, harassment and racism is not tolerated.
