I was a college student once and I will admit that we did some dumb things. But, what could the members of the Penn State sorority Chi Omega have been thinking when they posed for a photos dressed as Mexicans? And by dressed as, I mean they were wearing sombreros, fake moustaches (those that didn’t have fake moustaches posed with finger moustaches), panchos and perhaps most offensively, in one photo, two women were holding up signs that read “Will mow lawn for weed + beer” and “I don’t cut grass I smoke it.” The photos were taken at the Chi Omegas Halloween theme party.
Totally uncool, Chi Omegas! Hasn’t Penn State already suffered enough under the whole Sandusky scandal?
The director of Greek life for Penn State, Dr. Roy Baker, met with others, including the director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, and leaders of the Chi Omega sorority to discuss possible punishment for the photo.
Penn State has a Mexican American Student Association and vice president, Cesar Sanchez Lopez, said of the photo, “The Mexican American Student Association is disappointed in the attire chosen by this sorority. It in no way represents our culture. Not only have they chosen to stereotype our culture with serapes and sombreros, but the insinuation about drug usage makes this image more offensive. Our country is plagued by a drug war that has led to the death of an estimated 50,000 people, which is nothing to be joked about.”
President of the Penn State Nu Gamma chapter of Chi Omega, Jessica Riccardi, issued an apology, which read, “Our chapter of Chi Omega sincerely apologizes for portraying inappropriate and untrue stereotypes. The picture in question does not support any of Chi Omega’s values or reflect what the organization aspires to be.” Other than that, Riccardi said that all other questions should go to the national Chi Omega headquarters.
The sorority is under investigation by the Penn State Panellenic Council. The national Chi Omega headquarters has said it has put the Penn State chapter on probation for the photos.
Students at Penn State have decided to show their outrage by organizing a silent march today, not specifically because of the photos, but to increase Latino recruitment and retention at the university. Currently, the Hispanic population of Penn State makes up only 5 percent of its total enrollment.