Fraternity Disciplined After Outcry Over Party
Beta Theta Pi fraternity at UCLA will be barred from university activities for an unspecified period of time because it violated campus policies with what Latino students alleged was an offensive ethnic theme party last week, officials said Thursday.
The fraternity’s “Sunrise” party last Friday morning featured a large banner of a tequila worm wearing a sombrero and mustache. In protest, about 150 Latino students held a candlelight vigil in front of the house Wednesday, complaining that Mexicans were being mocked by the party. Fraternity members apologized but insisted that their party had a beach theme, not an ethnic one. UCLA officials said there were also violations of alcohol rules.
The length of the fraternity’s suspension has yet to be determined, officials said.
Five years ago, the same fraternity was suspended for a year from such activities as homecoming for holding a “Tequila Sunrise” party, complete with mariachi music.
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