The Theta Xi fratenity at the University of Michigan is facing disciplinary procedures for a issuing a racially insensitive invitation to a campus party. The event was billed as “World Star Hip Hop Presents: Hood Rachet Thursday.” The invite was directed at “bad bitches, White girls, basketball players, thugs, and gangsters.”
A headline on the invitation read, “We goin back to da hood again!!” A picture included on the invitation showed a Black man holding cash and warned those invited that “hood IDs would be checked.” The party was cancelled.
E. Royster Harper, vice president for student affairs at the university, sent an email to the campus community which read in part, “The language of the invitation and theme of the party denigrated all women and African American/black identified people through racial stereotypes and cultural appropriation. This behavior is offensive, disrespectful and unacceptable at the University of Michigan. It is unhealthy and harms everyone in the community. It is in direct contradiction to the values, policies and expectations of the University and will not be tolerated.”
The party planner offered an apology and an explanation of his actions in the Michigan Daily. It can be read here.
