2008 Woodie Awards
Alpha Kappa Lambda suspended
Miranda Wycoff
Issue date: 3/16/06 Section: News
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Miranda Wycoff
Muleskinner
Following an investigation by Central administration about possible discriminating parties over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, the Alpha Kappa Lambda (AKL) national organization has suspended Central's chapter and is in the process of revoking the chapter's charter.
After three weeks of investigation, Central officials were shown photographs posted on the Internet site, "Facebook," with members of AKL participating in the racially insensitive party.
"All the information we were getting was 'I hear this party happened'," said Vice President of Student Affairs Walt Hicklin. "The week before spring break we finally got specific information we could pinpoint to AKL."
According to reports, participants were asked to dress how they thought black people dress, eat fried chicken and drink from 40-ounce bottles.
As soon as Hicklin received this information, Central administrators called the executive director of AKL National Fraternity, Jeremy Slivinski, and reported the incident.
Slivinski expressed concern over the party and immediately traveled to Central.
"The party was a big thing [in suspending the chapter]. It's insensitive toward others," Slivinski said. "They also violated AKL risk management policies by having alcohol in the chapter house, etc."
Slivinski said the process for revoking the charter will take about a month and will require more than a simple majority vote by the fraternity's national council. Then all AKL chapters in the country will vote on the revoking of the charter.
The Central chapter will then have the opportunity to appeal the national decision if ultimately decided to revoke the chapter's charter.
"The local chapter's actions are inconsistent with the national chapter's principles and activities, and we will not tolerate this type of behavior," Slivinski said.
"If you look at the campus creed, we are a learning, open, caring, just, disciplined, celebrative and purposeful community. That type of party just doesn't hold up with the creed," Hicklin said. "I think any student here has a right to walk around campus, attend class, etc., without feeling that there are those out there making fun of them."
Muleskinner
Following an investigation by Central administration about possible discriminating parties over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, the Alpha Kappa Lambda (AKL) national organization has suspended Central's chapter and is in the process of revoking the chapter's charter.
After three weeks of investigation, Central officials were shown photographs posted on the Internet site, "Facebook," with members of AKL participating in the racially insensitive party.
"All the information we were getting was 'I hear this party happened'," said Vice President of Student Affairs Walt Hicklin. "The week before spring break we finally got specific information we could pinpoint to AKL."
According to reports, participants were asked to dress how they thought black people dress, eat fried chicken and drink from 40-ounce bottles.
As soon as Hicklin received this information, Central administrators called the executive director of AKL National Fraternity, Jeremy Slivinski, and reported the incident.
Slivinski expressed concern over the party and immediately traveled to Central.
"The party was a big thing [in suspending the chapter]. It's insensitive toward others," Slivinski said. "They also violated AKL risk management policies by having alcohol in the chapter house, etc."
Slivinski said the process for revoking the charter will take about a month and will require more than a simple majority vote by the fraternity's national council. Then all AKL chapters in the country will vote on the revoking of the charter.
The Central chapter will then have the opportunity to appeal the national decision if ultimately decided to revoke the chapter's charter.
"The local chapter's actions are inconsistent with the national chapter's principles and activities, and we will not tolerate this type of behavior," Slivinski said.
"If you look at the campus creed, we are a learning, open, caring, just, disciplined, celebrative and purposeful community. That type of party just doesn't hold up with the creed," Hicklin said. "I think any student here has a right to walk around campus, attend class, etc., without feeling that there are those out there making fun of them."