A Dartmouth College fraternity and sorority hosted a "Bloods and Crips" party in late July and are now feeling the harsh backlash, the Huffington Post reported.
The Alpha Delta fraternity and Delta Delta Delta sorority cohosted the event July 26 and encouraged attendees to come dressed as either of the notorious South Central Los Angeles gangs.
In an email provided to the Huffington Post, a Dartmouth sophomore briefly detailed the party. Though the recipient was not made known.
"I work very closely with OPAL as an intern with the (redacted). We've received word that two weekends ago, Tri-Delta Sorority and Alpha Delta hosted a Bloods and Crips Party at AD. Individuals mingled for hours while dressed as bloods or crips while using racialized language. It then turned into a "ghetto party" with racialized language, speech and dress. Over 200 individuals attended this event," the email said. "The invitation sent to various students between the social chairs of AD [Alpha Delta] is attached. It was also sent by OPAL [Office of Pluralism and Leadership] to the Office Dean of the College and other Administrative officials . [sic]"
As Dartblog, a Dartmouth daily blog, noted, this type of party is not a first for the Ivy League school. Dartblog pointed to a 1998 article in the New York Times detailing a "ghetto party." The article said some students attended in afro wigs and carried toy guns, some portraying rap artists.
Students and alum expressed their anger in online message boards and public blogging sites.
"This is entirely unacceptable," one student wrote on Tumblr. "I don't know how it could even occur to the leaders in both AD and Tri-Delt, who I KNOW are probably smart, intelligent individuals who are capable of better decisions than this. How stupid, how ignorant do you have to be to have thought this a good idea? I certainly hope AD faces severe sanctions for this."
A Dartmouth alum wrote on a private forum for the school's Afro-American society: "We do not know if a hateful or offensive slur was said. However, it does not matter. The whole party was a offensive slur [sic]."
Both Alpha Delta and Tri-Delta have apologized publically for the party.
"The idea was never meant to be derogatory to any group, and was intended to introduce a costume theme to the party," Alpha Delta's statement read. "Gang violence is obviously an incredibly serious problem across America, and while we as a house failed to preemptively recognize the offensive nature of the party's theme, the gravity of our oversight is now apparent to us."
Tri-Delta wrote: "We will be working with the college and Tri Delta Executive Office in order to continue to educate our members regarding cultural sensitivity and awareness."
Susan J. Boutwell, interim director of the Dartmouth Office of Public Affairs, provided a statement on the fraternity and sorority party.
"Dartmouth's student-run Greek Leadership Council is discussing educational initiatives and possible adoption of a policy and/or guidelines for themed events that better reflects the Greek community's commitment to hosting inclusive events."
