While many are at rage over the recent “Tequilas and Tacos” night recently held by the Delta Delta Delta sorority and the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, I ask you, do we really expect anything more than disrespectful behavior from university students. This is a university that parades a white guy dressed up as a “Native American”. As a result, a bunch of white men and women dressed up as “Mexicans” comes as no surprise.

While individuals are to be blamed, the University is also to be held accountable for fostering and condoning such behavior by the use of their own stereotypical image. Brian Pierce (10/17/06) challenges us to imagine fraternities and sororities dressed in blackface. Why imagine, I see it everyday in the guise of Chief Illiniwek. There is no difference; Chief Illiniwek equals “Tequila and Taco” night which equals “Pimps and Hoes” night, so on and so forth. A fight against stereotypes starts at the University level.

Brian Montes

Graduate student