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Police respond to frat concern

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Also by Pedro Oliveira Jr.:

Falk admits errors on 911 call (May 7, 2008)
Band allegations include sexual fondling (October 9, 2008)

by Pedro Oliveira Jr.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

After being accused of racial profiling for canceling a party at a University of Wisconsin fraternity last weekend, the UW Police Department said Monday their decision was due solely to security issues.

After reviewing an event intended to kick off the Hispanic Heritage Month sponsored by Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, UWPD decided to nix the party because the event was too widely advertised and could have safety problems, UWPD Assistant Chief Dale Burke said.

The police department became alarmed when they came across a Facebook advertisement created to promote the party, in which the event had recorded a possible attendance much higher than the allowed capacity at the Memorial Union's Trip Commons, according to Burke.

"That becomes a crowd control issue for us," Burke said.

Due to the football game, a considerable part of the UWPD was being used to monitor the streets of Madison, and the number of officers able to patrol the event would not have been enough to keep the party safe, according to Burke.

"We do allow UW System students and their guests, and we think normally that if the advertisements are limited to that audience, the attendance will be manageable and within reason," Burke said.

Lambda Theta Phi Foundation officials, however, said they suspect racial profiling and a violation of the fraternity members' First Amendment right to assemble and freely express their culture came into play.

Augustin Garcia, national chairman of the Lambda Theta Phi Foundation, said the organization has been contacting the Milwaukee office of the American Civil Liberties Union and has gathered a team of 12 attorneys to examine the validity of this measure.

According to Garcia, UW was the only campus to cancel an event of the Hispanic Heritage Month, and the act therefore marks a serious assumption regarding the Hispanic community.

"Is this really a security measure, or is it an ethnic measure?" Garcia asked.

According to Lambda Theta Phi Foundation Attorney James Cueva, several fraternity members told him the police department expressed concern over the musical styles to be played at the party — a combination of Latin genres and hip-hop — and that it influenced their decision to cancel the event.

"It seems to convey that Latinos and African-Americans can't have an event not connected to violence," Cueva said.

Burke said UWPD has had problems with hip-hop events, but that was not taken into consideration when evaluating Lambda's event.

"I would not have associated the Lambdas with hip-hop music," Burke said. "It doesn't mean they wouldn't have hip-hop; I just wouldn't have made that assumption."

According to Cueva, party organizers offered to hire extra security and check IDs at the door of the event, but Burke said that was not an option.

"It's unrealistic to expect students to act as security for other students," Burke said. "It's not fair to put students in that kind of a situation where they might be intimidated by other folks coming in."

Burke said similar situations have happened in the past and it tends to "lead to trouble."

He added that the police department was not satisfied with the way the matter was resolved, and hopes to avoid a similar situation in the future.

"To my knowledge, this is the first time we've had to do this, and I hope this is the last time," Burke said. "As long as the student orgs are willing to talk to us, we can certainly avoid these kinds of things in the future."

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Anonymous (September 18, 2007 @ 1:06pm):

I cannot possibly buy, or even acknowledge, the argument made and justification provided by UW Madison Police to summarily cancel Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity's "Seductive Ritmo" event previously scheduled to be held next Saturday on the UW Campus to mark the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.

I understand that UWP may be concerned about security issues at any event taking place in our campus. If they are going to cite "crowd control concerns" as the argument for cancellation, I respectfully suggest to CANCEL ALL FOOTBALL games already scheduled on this campus for the rest of the season until ALL CROWD CONTROL ISSUES" are resolved. 70,000 plus red-wearing rowdy fans in one location.....No, it cannot happen! I respectfully suggest to CANCEL ALL BASKETBALL games already schedule for the rest of the season. How about 17,000 roaring and highly energized sometimes drunk fans in attendance inside one building? What a major safety nightmare!

I bet you many members of the UWP will be glad for not having to put up with drunken and fastidious fans, neighbors will be able to park their cars in their garages and in the streets without stressing about if somebody cracks the windshield or finds a flat tire the next morning. They will go to sleep soundly without major worries. Me too.

Well, if you think that this argument is childish, the UWP Assistant Chief Burke's is even more absurd and, undoubtedly, is a direct reflect of a long-standing, repeated, and insulting attitude when dealing with communities of color and cultural-based student organizations who tend to listen to other music than Madonna's or Britney's (Arghhhh!) and eat other foods than brats and sauerkraut.

"When you get people from out of town, there's no predicting what you're going to get. That's where our antenna have to go up. That's what gave us angst here. We didn't know where people were going to be coming from or how many." Assistant Chief Burke says. Well, they come from ALL OVER THE FREAKING STATE for football games. Aren't they?

The article mentions that "John Gutierrez, president of the UW-Madison colony of Lambda Theta Phi, said the fraternity was told by campus police that "these hip-hop parties end in fights. "

What!? What? What? Wasn't this supposed to be a Latin music event. When did the "hip-hop" twist happen? Who said it was a hip-hop event?

Hint Hint.... Next time, I suggest advertise it as an event for classic SOB music lovers. A Symphonic, Operatic and Ballet event. A horn infused, big band orchestra, with lead singers where dancing is encouraged.

No red flags, no funky language, no outrageous displays of enjoyment will be expected.

Very white isn't it? The Assistant Chief Burke's antenna will not be activated because he and only he will be able to know what to expect next time.

Anonymous (September 18, 2007 @ 1:51pm):

Ok, they can't use facebook as a bases to cancel a party. If they basing the attendence by facebook, then they should have the same protocol for everyone. Like someone mentioned on yesterday's article, people are giving a courtesy invite and people say they're are coming out of that courtesy, but those people never come. And even if a few people from outside Madison come they usually know people from Madison making them guest of UW-Madison Students. There are lots of events held in the union that are posted on facebook that would go well over capacity, but they weren't/aren't shut down. And if security was an issue from the football game to begin with why did they agree to it in the first place. There are events being held this weekend in the unions with a football game on saturday and they haven't cancelled those, why this event?

Anonymous (September 18, 2007 @ 2:09pm):

SUPERMAN O6!

the MEMORIAL UNION exists because of students for student events. read its history.

The Lambdas have every right to have security and a venue for their party. HALLOWEEN EVENTS IN MADISON ARE STILL GOING ON ALTHOUGH MANY WOMEN GET RAPED AND ABUSED DURING THIS DAY.

ON ST PATTYS DAY....MANY STUDENTS ARE SENT TO THE HOSPiTAL FOR ACCIDENTS & DETOX (COOL BEANS)....

BUT THE UW POLICE supports these events AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...works with...i repeat...works with UW Housing and the campus orgs to ensure a safe fun time.

if the uw police can handle
MIFFLIN,
HALLOWEEN,
AND ST PATTY DAY... then they can handle

Seductive Ritmo

Anonymous (September 18, 2007 @ 3:30pm):

how about the racial profiling that the fraternity does?

Anonymous (September 18, 2007 @ 4:27pm):

Are you kidding me 3:30 pm Anonymous? ALL racial backgrounds are invited to join... unless you are so intimidated by a Latino brother becoming your assigned Mentor.... learn some Salsa and get rid of your racial prejudices! All at once!

Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 8:43pm):

Brothers Stay Strong and Dont Quit.

G.G., J.O., D.A. Fall 89 Epsilon Chapter

Anonymous (September 20, 2007 @ 2:03pm):

Racial profiling at its finest. However, at these kinds of events there are idiots that start crap over nothing which results in feuds, brawls, fights whatever. Some of the people are very rowdy and it just makes everyone look bad when something stupid arises and fights break out. I dont think its related to hip hop music though. It was to do with the attendees

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