Themed parties spark controversy

Themed parties spark controversy

Two student-run parties sparked significant community pushback. One was the Frisbee team's "Cowboys and Injuns" themed party that was hosted in Pearson's lounge as a registered event in Cook Commons. The text message invite that circulated for this party instructed students to " come dressed as an Injun, [and] you will be confined to one small reservation area of the party, where you will be forced to sit there and drink fire water. If you come dressed as a cowboy, you will be allowed to run around, do whatever you want, and drink whatever you want". This event was protested by members of the African-American Alliance, PALANA, and by Posse Scholars. Similarly, the Mill hosted a party that was titled "Asia: the Continent". The members of the Mill supposedly framed this party as a celebration of Asian culture, with instructions to "Wear a little Asian and rock with us". Apparently, when the Cook Common Dean, David Edleson was informed about the parties theme by the Cook Commons Residential Advisor, he was quoted as saying "I made it clear that we did not have the right to shut the party down based solely on its theme, but that the protests' right to voice their objections must be protected as well."

Volume 103, Number 4

Andrea M. LaRoca

The Campus

10/07/2004