After student outcry against a Kappa Sigma party banner that was deemed offensive for its racist implications, the UCA administration made changes to advertising policies, now requiring that advertisements in front of the Student Center be approved by an administrator before they can be displayed.
Placed outside the Student Center Aug. 30 and then taken down that same day, the banner promoting Kappa Sigma’s “Bahama Mama”-themed party was meant to depict a “tiki man,” but sparked opposition because of its similarity to Jim Crow-style caricatures of black people.
After she took notice of the banner, junior Jade Mongo, a political science major, started a Change.org petition asking the UCA administration to take appropriate actions against the fraternity. It reached over 400 signatures on its first day online, and currently has over 600.
“To those who were offended or upset by the image on our sign, we are deeply sorry and regret that this is the impression that we’ve given,” Kappa Sigma alumni adviser Drew Davis said. “We hope that the UCA family of students will give us some space for grace on this. We can and will do better. More eyes will be put on the media that we put out, and we will make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
The decision to tighten Student Center advertising policy came after an Oct. 2 meeting that allowed for open conversation between students, members of administration and Kappa Sigma representatives, with Wendy Holbrook, assistant vice president for student engagement, leadership and service, facilitating the conversation.
Junior Kappa Sigma President Drew Stout was the first and primary representative of the fraternity to speak. After Stout delivered an apology and reiterated some of Davis’ points, Holbrook opened the floor for comments and questions.
Dierre Littleton, associate director of the Office of Diversity and Community, asked the fraternity representatives, “Do you know, historically, why this image was offensive?”
Kappa Sigma members shared that they were not aware of the history behind the use of such images.
Mongo and senior Wesley Peters gave a brief educational rundown of the history of Jim Crow caricatures and their legacy of racism.
Jim Crow was the signature act of white minstrel performer Thomas Dartmouth Rice in the 1830s, which he portrayed in blackface. According to the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, Rice’s stereotypical portrayal of black people perpetuated the belief that they were “lazy, stupid, inherently less human and unworthy of integration.” To this day the character has the legacy of an offensive racial epithet.
“As a school that openly accepts brown and black people, more concern should have gone into this banner,” Peters said.
Senior Mary Gayden pointed out that two Kappa Sigma brothers had shown up to the meeting in T-shirts displaying the fraternity’s past “Bahama Mama”-themed design on it — which she said she perceived as a slap in the face.
Stout said he did not notice the T-shirts prior to the meeting’s start.
Littleton tied the idea of “intent versus impact” to both the use of the image on the banner and the fact that the T-shirts were worn to the meeting, arguing that the intent behind someone’s actions should not be prioritized over their impact.
Conner Qualls, a new Kappa Sigma inductee, asked the forum what measures the fraternity should take to avoid another situation like this from arising.
Students offered suggestions like providing more time than two days before a party to design the advertisement so that it is not a rushed job, allowing Greek organizations with the National Pan-Hellenic Council to look over the advertisement if the fraternity is not sure about how it will be perceived, and to attend events hosted by minority student organizations to better understand white privilege.
Before she started the petition, Mongo had initially brought the banner to the attention of 14 other students, and the group immediately visited President Houston Davis’ office for answers Aug 30. After attempting to speak with both President Davis and Dean of Students Kelly Owens, Mongo was told that both Davis and Owens were in meetings.
A few hours later, Mongo sat down with Owens, who listened to Mongo’s concerns, but did not follow up with any solutions or reprimands.
Mongo said her purpose for starting the petition was so that the UCA administration would not brush off the students’ concerns or “sweep the issues surrounding the banner under the rug.”
Drew Davis said the fraternity typically reaches out to an available sorority to design their advertisements. Because no sororities were available, the fraternity solicited the services of an artist outside of the chapter to create the banner.
He said that the general directions given to the artist were to create a beach-themed advertisement for the party bearing the title, “Bahama Mama,” and that the banner was made two days prior to the party so not many eyes viewed the design before its display.
The artist based his drawing off an image of a “tiki man” created by freelance illustration company Flyland Designs. Holbrook opened the floor for comments or questions.
Dierre Littleton, associate director for the office of diversity and community, asked the fraternity representatives: “Do you know, historically, why this image was offensive?”
After a brief educational rundown of Jim Crow caricatures by Mongo and Senior Wesley Peters, Kappa Sigma members shared they were not aware of the history behind the use of such images.
“As a school that openly accepts brown and black people, more concern should have gone into this banner,” Peters said.
UCA Senior Mary Gayden kept the conversation flowing as she pointed out two Kappa Sigma brothers had shown up in t-shirts that had the fraternity’s past “Bahama Mama”-themed design on it — which she said she perceived as a slap in the face.
Littleton tied the idea of “intent versus impact” to both the initial use of the image on the banner and then the t-shirts being worn to the meeting and Stout claiming that he did not notice the t-shirts prior to the meeting’s start.
According to Huffington Post, intent versus impact refers to the way that someone is communicating (intent), does not necessarily send the messages and signals that help to achieve the desired goal.
Associate director of international engagement Ashley Pettingill said , UCA students represent over 72 countries, with Bohemian students being the largest international population on campus.
Conner Qualls, a new Kappa Sigma inductee, asked of the forum what the fraternity should do in the future to avoid another situation like this from arising. Students offered suggestions like giving more than two days before a party to design the advertisement so that it is not a rushed job, allowing NPHC Greek organizations to look over the advertisement if the fraternity is not sure about how it will be perceived, and to attend events hosted by minority student organizations to better understand white privilege.
UCA administration made changes to advertising policies in front of the student center, now requiring someone from administration to look over any form of advertisement before it can be displayed.
“Do you know, historically, why this image was offensive?”
After a brief educational rundown of Jim Crow caricatures by Mongo and Senior Wesley Peters, Kappa Sigma members shared they were not aware of the history behind the use of such images.
“As a school that openly accepts brown and black people, more concern should have gone into this banner,” Peters said.
UCA Senior Mary Gayden kept the conversation flowing as she pointed out two Kappa Sigma brothers had shown up in t-shirts that had the fraternity’s past “Bahama Mama”-themed design on it — which she said she perceived as a slap in the face.
Littleton tied the idea of “intent versus impact” to both the initial use of the image on the banner and then the t-shirts being worn to the meeting and Stout claiming that he did not notice the t-shirts prior to the meeting’s start.
According to Huffington Post, intent versus impact refers to the way that someone is communicating (intent), does not necessarily send the messages and signals that help to achieve the desired goal.
Associate director of international engagement Ashley Pettingill said , UCA students represent over 72 countries, with Bohemian students being the largest international population on campus.
Conner Qualls, a new Kappa Sigma inductee, asked of the forum what the fraternity should do in the future to avoid another situation like this from arising. Students offered suggestions like giving more than two days before a party to design the advertisement so that it is not a rushed job, allowing NPHC Greek organizations to look over the advertisement if the fraternity is not sure about how it will be perceived, and to attend events hosted by minority student organizations to better understand white privilege.
UCA administration made changes to advertising policies in front of the student center, now requiring someone from administration to look over any form of advertisement before it can be displayed.
Photo courtesy of Jade Mongo
