Duke Frat Party Dubbed ‘Racist Rager’ Gets Kappa Sigma Suspended

A Duke frat party caused controversy at the North Carolina campus this week after several students waged a protest against the Kappa Sigma fraternity for their “racist rager.”

According to the Duke Chronicle, the Kappa Sigma fraternity has been suspended for hosting the racist frat party. The fraternity has not had its charter revoked yet but an investigation is ongoing.

The Duke frat party was originally called the “Asia Prime.” After the Center for Multicultural Affairs caught wind of the party the fraternity was asked to modify its plans. Kappa Sigma sent out an email that renamed the party “International Relations.”

The frat may have changed the name of the party but the theme remained the same.

Student Ashley Tsai , who protested the party, said:

“This is not just about Asians, one party or one frat. 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.”

The Duke Chronicle notes that the Kappa Sigma fraternity, which was uncharted in 2002, has held it’s “Asian Prime” party for several years off campus. The fraternity was re-chartered this year and held it’s party on campus. Of course, now the frat is at risk of losing its charter again.

Tsai, Ting-Ting Zhou and several other students posted flyers around campus last week to alert students about the racist party.

Here’s a look at the invitation to the Duke frat party.

Here’s one of the protest flyers.

Kappa Sigma President Luke Keohane apologized for the party:

“Upon learning of the deeply damaging effects of our email to our fellow students, we should have completely canceled the aforementioned party. The Duke Community in which we exist is one that we see too often as divided, and while our actions have brought attention to and widened that divide, it is our sincere intention to work to contribute to a United Duke.”

Of course, this isn’t the only incident of racial insensitivity on a college campus. Last year, a group of Duke Lacrosse players wore black face to a party. A sorority at Penn State also caused controversy for a “Mexican” themed party which featured mustaches and ponchos.

Zhou said: “We are protesting the culture of acceptance at these kinds of things. The administration does nothing.”

Do you think the Kappa Sigma Fraternity should lose its charter over the frat party?