Outrage at Duke Over Fraternity's Asian-Themed 'Racist Rager'
Members of the Asian Students Association at Duke are incensed over a fraternity's decision to throw a themed party replete with offensive Asian stereotypes, including conical hats and geisha outfits.
"Herro Nice Duke Peopre!!" read the opening line in the email inviting Dukies to "the return of Kappa Sigma Asia Prime."
According to The Duke Chronicle, the off-campus party was later renamed "International Relations" after a report was filed with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
But the Asian Students Association says the "racist rager" went on as planned despite the name change, and it has the Facebook photos to prove it.
Several of those photos were posted around the school this morning in protest, but most were removed by Kappa Sigma members by late afternoon.
"This is not just about Asians, one party or one frat," senior Ashley Tsai told the Chronicle. "This is a consistent thing happening. We want serious things to be done by the student body and the University so that this never happens again."
A more formal protest is planned for tomorrow.
Kappa Sigma was welcomed back on campus and into the Interfraternity Council (IFC) just last year. It had removed itself from the IFC in 2002 following a string of policy violations that had resulted in impending sanctions. Between 2002 and 2012 it operated unofficially under "Eta Prime" — its chapter name.
This latest controversy involving a fraternity party comes just a few months after the Chi Omega Nu Gamma sorority at Penn State drew criticism for holding a "Mexican fiesta themed" costume party that was seen as racist by many.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Ashley Tsai as the president of Duke's Asian Students Association. The current sitting president is Ting-Ting Zhou.
