University of Texas fraternity under investigation for 'border patrol' party

A fraternity at the University of Texas at Austin is taking heat for hosting an alleged "border patrol" party at its house within spitting distance of the university campus on Saturday night. Partygoers attending a bash hosted by UT's chapter of the national Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, known as Texas Fiji, wore ponchos, sombreros and construction gear while others wore military camoflauge outfits near photo cutout boards of people in traditional Mexican garb, a bar painted to look like a Mexican flag and a giant cutout of Patrón tequila, The Daily Texan reported. less A fraternity at the University of Texas at Austin is taking heat for hosting an alleged "border patrol" party at its house within spitting distance of the university campus on Saturday night. Partygoers ... more Photo: Julia Brouillette/The Daily Texan Photo: Julia Brouillette/The Daily Texan Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close University of Texas fraternity under investigation for 'border patrol' party 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

A fraternity at the University of Texas at Austin is taking heat for hosting an alleged "border patrol" party at its house within spitting distance of the university campus on Saturday night.

Partygoers attending a bash hosted by UT's chapter of the national Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, known as Texas Fiji, wore ponchos, sombreros and construction gear while others wore military camouflage outfits near photo cutout boards of people in traditional Mexican garb, a bar painted to look like a Mexican flag and a giant cutout of Patrón tequila, The Daily Texan reported.

University officials said Monday that they are investigating the situation.

"As a university, we take this very seriously," UT spokesman Gary Susswein said.

Some party guests donned construction hard hats with the word "Jefe" and name "Pablo Sanchez" scribbled on them. Guests told the student paper that the party's theme was communicated as "border patrol" by the fraternity.

Andrew Campbell, the chapter's president, denied that the organization intended to throw a border patrol-themed party, telling the school's newspaper that the bash was supposed to be a "Western-themed party which focuses on the traditional Old West."

"We notified our chapter prior to the party via email that the theme was Western — not south of the border or anything Mexican related," Campbell said in an emailed statement. "It was our intention to monitor and enforce this policy to the best of our ability."

Campbell continued, "If any individual or cultural groups were offended, Texas Fiji apologizes for any insensitivity that our guests or members may have portrayed. It is never Texas Fiji's intent to alienate or demean any ethnic group."

Gawker reported that a male guest allegedly punched a woman at the party, hosted at the fraternity's house at 2707 Hemphill Park in Austin, citing comments posted to the anonymous mobile application Yik Yak.

Campbell called those reports "extremely inaccurate."

"No guest or member hit a woman and nobody was knocked unconscious. There was not an ambulance nor police present at the party," Campbell said. "Yik Yak is generally a poor source of information, as anyone can write anything without being subject to proving their authenticity.

Spokespersons for both the Austin and University of Texas police departments said no incidents at that address were reported on Saturday or Sunday. APD spokeswoman Jennifer Herber said it's possible a complainant may have filed a report from another address.

This isn't the first time a Texas student organization has come under scrutiny for hosting an alleged "border patrol" party: Texas Tech University officials began investigating its chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority in October after photos surfaced of two women dressed as law enforcement officers arresting two other women, who each held maracas and were dressed in ponchos and sombreros.

The sorority held no such event and was later cleared in the university's investigation, said Heather Kirk, director of education and communications for Zeta Tau Alpha's national headquarters.

Similar incidents on the University of Texas campus prompted university officials to start the Campus Climate program, which collects data about bias incidents involving students, faculty and staff on and off campus.

Almost 90 percent of the complaints filed with the Campus Climate Response Team during the 2013-14 academic year stemmed from two events staged by the university's chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, according to a report released Monday.

In September 2013, the chapter sponsored an "affirmative action bake sale" to protest affirmative action policies. White individuals were charged the most for baked goods, while women and those of other ethnicities were charged differing amounts in descending order.

The group also drew scorn for throwing a "catch an illegal immigrant" game on November 28.

Of the 73 remaining incident complaints, 42 percent cited bias based on race and ethnicity, 30 percent cited gender bias, 28 percent cited sexual orientation bias and 26 percent on gender expression.

Almost half involved verbal harassment or slurs, according to the new report.

Erica Saenz, spokeswoman for UT's Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, said officials use these incidents to educate and equip students with knowledge that will help them create a more inclusive and nonoffensive environment.

"It certainly does not reflect the values of our university so we want to respond to them appropriately," Saenz said.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports