>From the LA Times, 11/9/01:

*****

THE NATION
Frat Bans 13 Who Wore Blackface

>From Associated Press

AUBURN, Ala. -- An Auburn University fraternity voted to suspend 13 members
photographed in blackface and with Afro wigs at a party, an incident that
helped prompt a racial diversity rally at the campus Thursday.

Beta Theta Pi's action followed the expulsion by Delta Sigma Phi of two
students photographed at another party, one wearing a Ku Klux Klan robe,
the other in blackface with a noose around his neck, a Confederate flag in
the background. Four other Delta Sigma Phi members were suspended.

Also Thursday, the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at the University of
Mississippi expelled two of its members after a Halloween party picture was
posted on the Internet showing one dressed as a police officer and holding
a gun to the head of the second, who was in blackface. At Auburn,
additional disciplinary action against Beta Theta Pi fraternity could come
from its national chapter by Monday, said Judson Horras, a spokesman for
the national organization who is investigating the incident.

The suspensions prohibit the fraternity members from participating in any
chapter activities. Those affected also are banned from living or eating
meals at the chapter's house.

Both Beta Theta Pi and Delta Sigma Phi have been indefinitely suspended by
Auburn from holding any social events during the investigation. The two
fraternity chapters, which have no black members, were suspended by Auburn
for violating the school's discrimination and harassment rules.

http://Partypics.com, the professional service that photographed the
parties, has pulled the photos from its Web site, where they were spotted
by black students who raised questions about them.

Names of the fraternity members pictured will not be released by the
university until the investigation is completed, said Interfraternity
Council Advisor Jamie Mantooth.

Both fraternities have publicly apologized to black students.

Copyright 2001 Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com