IRVINE – The Associated Students – UC Irvine Legislative Council voted Tuesday to take action against Phi Gamma Delta, a fraternity accused by some students of holding a racially insensitive party.

The legislation passed 14-0-1 and came after complaints about the fraternity’s annual Fiji Islander theme party two weeks ago.

Partygoers showing up at the Anteater Recreation Center to be shuttled off to the party venue were seen wearing grass skirts, leis and aloha shirts. This struck a nerve with some students, a few of whom were at the shuttle site holding a sign proclaiming “this is not Fiji, this is racist.”

More than 100 students attended a meeting last week to voice concerns to the student government, with critics saying the party involved cultural appropriation.

A presentation last week included information about inequalities dating to colonialism. The presenters argued that when Fiji was colonized, its residents were forced to live according to Western culture, while their traditional attire and customs were looked down upon. Presenters complained that when this same culture that was seen as primitive by the colonists is suddenly used for fun without care for the history behind it, a sense of wrongdoing and inequality emerges.

The legislation was submitted to ASUCI by Save Gasaiwai, a student who identifies as one of UC Irvine’s 28 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students, along with support from the Asian Pacific Student Association at UCI.

Officials at Phi Gamma Delta, which has adopted the “Fiji” nickname, could not be reached for comment.

The student legislative body voted that the fraternity must change the name of the event, stop using the “Fiji” nickname and discontinue the use of the islander theme.

Contact the writer: jwinslow@ocregister.com