Bruins in Blackface for Kanye Western Themed Party

Bruins in Blackface for Kanye Western Themed Party

October 8, 2015 – What could go wrong when a UCLA fraternity throws a “Kanye Western” themed party? Yes, everything you’d think. The Bruin chapter of the Sigma Phil Epsilon fraternity and Alpha Phi sorority threw the party this week with guests dressed in baggy pants, plumped limps, padded bottoms and, you guessed it, blackface. Yeezus.

From the campus newspaper The Daily Bruin:

“Kelsee Thomas, a third-year fine arts student and member of the Afrikan Student Union, said other ASU members said they saw partygoers with those costumes. Photos from the raid also show attendees with their foreheads covered in charcoal.”

UCLA Media Relations took a mildly passive approach to the situation reminding students that while they are free to parody popular culture, “their specific choices can cause harm and pain” to others. Their statement went on to say:

“Put simply: just because you can do something does not mean you should.”

Gawker meanwhile found this to be an improvement by general frat standards:

“As far as racist frat parties goes, this one seems almost consciously non-racist. Based on these photos, the attendees appeared to have been so aware of the potential for overt racism that they barely even adhered to the theme of the party.”

Not surprisingly, the party has caused a ruckus on campus. Andrea Collins told ABC7:

“It’s kind of insane to me,” said Adrena Collins, a UCLA student. “I thought the only colors that are supposed to matter here are blue and gold.”

A protest is scheduled to take place on campus today with organizers using #BlackBruinsMatter to get out the word.

You make the call. Is the Kanye Western themed frat party Funny or Offensive? VOTE and COMMENT now…