CMSU suspends fraternity for throwing 'racially insensitive' party

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Central Missouri State University has suspended a fraternity for holding a "racially insensitive" party around Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

A three-week university investigation found that the January event, called a "chicken and beer" party at the Alpha Kappa Lambda's housing complex mocked the national King holiday, established to honor the slain civil rights leader.

According to an editorial in the CMSU student newspaper, the Muleskinner, participants arrived wearing doo-rags and baggy pants and carrying chains. They drank beer from 40-ounce bottles and ate fried chicken.

The fraternity's national headquarters suspended it on Thursday and was taking steps to cancel the chapter's charter, said Jeremy Slivinski, executive director of the national fraternity.

"We do find that the incident was racially insensitive," Slivinski said. "And the house is supposed to be alcohol-free. They violated a risk-management policy."

Suspension means that the fraternity will no longer be permitted to participate in campus events as a social organization and no longer has access to campus funds.

He said alumni of the CMSU chapter were "disappointed in the choices our men made and deeply sorry for any offense that might have been taken. We will not tolerate this kind of action by our undergraduates."

On Friday, university officials began moving students in the 31-member fraternity from their house into residence halls on campus. University officials were continuing an investigation and said there may be further disciplinary action against some students involved.

Walt Hicklin, interim vice president for student affairs, said the university promotes a "healthy multicultural environment."

University officials said that before the suspension, the fraternity had the right to apply for student activity funds but that no university money was used to pay for the party. Alpha Kappa Lambda has been on the CMSU campus for 50 years.