Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the racism. A University of Texas fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, is under fire for a loosely themed "Western" party that some have said was actually a racist "border patrol" party.
Students, most of whom were white, were dressed in ponchos and sombreros. Some wore construction uniforms with Hispanic names written on them, while others donned military uniforms, according to USA Today.
Some photos from the party popped up on Twitter:
UT fraternity thinks it’s funny to throw ‘border patrol’ themed party – http://t.co/WBfwMWddte pic.twitter.com/WqzxHxMR9A
— Sal Guerrero (@SalDGuerrero) February 9, 2015
Frat members dress as ‘construction workers’, sombreros, etc, at ‘Border-patrol’ party at UT Austin. pic.twitter.com/CV3WzUz31r
— Austinero (@ledesmaChris) February 9, 2015
In response to the party, some UT students have written an open petition asking for institutional accountability. The letter reads, in part:
We have created this petition in order to express our concern at the reoccurrence of these themed parties and to ask for your support in denouncing these parties. Moreover, it is our goal that The University of Texas at Austin actually implement proper repercussions for organizations who choose to partake in such activities that promote the ridicule of different cultures. There has to be an end to these parties.