2008 Woodie Awards
Illini Media
WPGU
buzz
Illio
TechnographQuad protest targets racial stereotyping
Group lambasts ZBT, Tri Delts, hopes to get University's attention
By Susan Kantor
Posted: 11/1/06 Section: News
"The controversy has spurred a great deal of conversation about treating one another with common decency, and that is good," Herman said in his statement. "The process of reviewing the incident is now underway, and I believe a deeper appreciation of our cultural diversity and individual responsibility will be the result."
After Romano read the statement, some students asked why the administration did not speak on the Quad, what is going to be done to ensure minority students have a safe environment, why nothing was done last year when a "ghetto"-themed party occurred and what would have been the response if a multi-cultural Greek organization held a party of a similar nature.
"I want to assure you that we are listening, we care, and this incident does not reflect the University's values," Romano said. "We are working through our system. It's not happening quickly and many of you are not aware of what is going on."
Romano also said there are plans including diversity education for all first-year students and the administration is working hard to get these classes implemented by next fall.
Lisa Moore, assistant dean of students, said the University has not sanctioned Tri Delta or ZBT because the Board of Fraternity Affairs and the Board of Sorority Affairs was given the power to discipline when chapters violate policy.
"Everything ZBT and Tri Delta have done are self-imposed sanctions," Moore said.
Moore also said that although the event was unacceptable, there were no code violations in the student code. She said they will have to see when the hearing is scheduled.
Nora Garcia, member of Lambda Pi Upsilon, a United Greek Council sorority, and senior in LAS, said she was upset that ZBT and Tri Delta did not think it would be a racial stereotype. She said that the administration needs to be aware that the minority student population is fed up and does not plan to let these actions go unnoticed.
"It is time for a change," Torres said. "It is time for us to step back, to put our egos aside, to put our organizations behind us, to put our letters behind us, to step up together to unify ourselves and to stand up as one voice to speak out at this university."
After Romano read the statement, some students asked why the administration did not speak on the Quad, what is going to be done to ensure minority students have a safe environment, why nothing was done last year when a "ghetto"-themed party occurred and what would have been the response if a multi-cultural Greek organization held a party of a similar nature.
"I want to assure you that we are listening, we care, and this incident does not reflect the University's values," Romano said. "We are working through our system. It's not happening quickly and many of you are not aware of what is going on."
Romano also said there are plans including diversity education for all first-year students and the administration is working hard to get these classes implemented by next fall.
Lisa Moore, assistant dean of students, said the University has not sanctioned Tri Delta or ZBT because the Board of Fraternity Affairs and the Board of Sorority Affairs was given the power to discipline when chapters violate policy.
"Everything ZBT and Tri Delta have done are self-imposed sanctions," Moore said.
Moore also said that although the event was unacceptable, there were no code violations in the student code. She said they will have to see when the hearing is scheduled.
Nora Garcia, member of Lambda Pi Upsilon, a United Greek Council sorority, and senior in LAS, said she was upset that ZBT and Tri Delta did not think it would be a racial stereotype. She said that the administration needs to be aware that the minority student population is fed up and does not plan to let these actions go unnoticed.
"It is time for a change," Torres said. "It is time for us to step back, to put our egos aside, to put our organizations behind us, to put our letters behind us, to step up together to unify ourselves and to stand up as one voice to speak out at this university."
The Daily Illini encourages on-topic discussion through article commenting on its articles and blogs. It is our policy not to delete any comments based upon political or ideological point of view. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are abusive, off-topic or use excessive foul language.
The posting of copyrighted material, including any and all content for which you are not the author, is illegal under Federal intellectual property laws. Such activity will not be tolerated. Comments containing copyrighted material will be removed, and continued violation of copyright law is grounds for being banned completely from commenting on DailyIllini.com.
If you feel any post meets these conditions or merits review, please e-mail our editors at meonline@dailyillini.com.