Cal Poly fraternity suspended over photo deemed racist
UPDATE:
Kyler Watkins has identified himself as the Cal Poly student who painted his face black at a Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity event. Doug Gilliland, Watkins attorney, has sent NewsChannel 3 the following statement:
As a former Cal Poly Lambda Chi Alpha member, I would like to respond to numerous statements made by Cal Poly to the press regarding the Lambda Chi Alpha “blackface” incident, in addition to factual misstatements rampant on social media.
First and most importantly, I take full responsibility for the lack of judgment I displayed when I painted my face black at a brotherhood event on April 7, 2018. If there’s any part of this message to take into consideration, I hope it would be that my ill-informed decision to paint my face black had nothing whatsoever to do with racism or discrimination. Growing up white and privileged, I was truly unaware of how insensitive I was to the racial implications of blackface. I was, in fact, a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha “black team,” wore black clothes and painted my face. Dozens of witnesses, text messages leading up to the event, photographs and a video support my unwavering position that I never intended to represent or mimic a black person. I am not in the now infamous gangster photo because that picture depicts members of the yellow team who opted for a gangster theme. I was not on the yellow team, and for that reason, I am not in the photo, nor was I dressed as a gangster.
When I woke up Sunday morning to learn that “blackface” is of historical racial significance, no words can express my regret and horror. I began researching on my laptop and learned that blackface was used in early theater to perpetuate racial stereotypes. I knew immediately that I had made a grave mistake, and moreover, I fully understood why people would hate me. My own lack of awareness has placed my life in danger and worse, has hurt other people whom I had no intention of alienating, mocking or offending in any way. My life has been threatened, lies about me are permeating social media, and justifiably so.
Although social media and editorials in the Mustang News have dismissed my explanation as “pathetic” and “false,” the explanation is true and supported by evidence I have supplied to the University. I am not, nor have I ever been, a racist, and contrary to some reports, I have never been involved in any kind of discriminatory incident. I am not sorry simply because I “was caught.” I am sorry because I have given other students the impression they can indiscriminately be made fun of because of their race or appearance. In my own mind, I was simply “going all out” in my theme as a member of the black team. Believe me, I wish with all my heart that I had been a member of the blue team.
Second, the press, social media, a new Cal Poly parents’ facebook page and editorials to the Mustang News have portrayed me as a tried and true racist. They have argued that the concepts of the “benefit of the doubt” and “there are two-sides to every story” do not apply to me because there is no excuse for “blackface.” I agree. There is no excuse for blackface; I truly did not know the historical ramifications of it on April 7. I do now.
I understand there will be a diversity march on Friday, April 13, 2018. I’m very open to a dialogue with anyone or any student group who would like to discuss increased diversity awareness within the Greek system and the school as a whole. I’m confident that increased awareness and education is the key to preventing the type of hurt I have caused. Ultimately, I cannot control what is said or believed about me in the press and social media. For my part, all I can do now is express my sincerest apologies to those whom I have hurt. My actions stemmed from ignorance, but never hate, discrimination or the intent to hurt anyone.
Kyler Watkins
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Cal Poly announced on Monday that its dean of students had placed the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity chapter on interim suspension. The university is investigating an incident involving a photo where a fraternity brother appears in black face.
The photograph was reposted by Facebook user Monique Chenault-Hakker on Sunday. Part of the caption reads: “Disgusting humans…don’t send your kids here if you want them to be safe.”
Some Cal Poly students are calling it an act of racism and ignorance.
” I was baffled and outraged,” said second-year student Garrett Brisbane. “I just didn’t understand how a college educated person could not think that black face is a problem.”
The photo was taken during the school’s Polycultural weekend -a time where cultural campus groups welcome would-be students.
The organization apologized for their actions in a statement to the school’s paper, Mustang News:
” We are completely sorry and embarrassed for failing to recognize the racial impacts this brought forth. Although it was not our intention to stir up racial tension, we understand the negative impact this picture had on our peers.”
In another photograph shared on Instagram, the brothers are seen posing in stereotypical gangster attire. The post has been since deleted.
In the statement released by Mustang News, Lambda Chi Alpha explained their members dressed in different team colors for a competition.
Some students think they’re making excuses.
” Those students who did that, they’re not children,” said Black Student Union member, Miaya May. “We don’t need to hold their hand. They lied, and they fully knew what they were doing.”
They also say the university is no stranger to racism.
” It’s just a feeling,” said May. “Being a person of color on a predominantly white campus, not feeling accepted in spaces.”
” Peers in my club Queer Trans People of Color all have stories about racist happenings in class,” added Brisbane. “Whether it’s underlying racism or blatant racism.”
They’re now asking Cal Poly to punish the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
” I think that entire fraternity needs to be dismantled and it needs to be made an example of,” said May. “Because if they can get away with it -they’re one of the biggest fraternities at our school -then anyone else can.”
” I was actually looking up stories where it’s happened at other colleges, and some of the responses were the students being expelled and the chapters banned for a few years at least,” said first-year student Samantha Rivera. “So I think that that would be an appropriate measure.”
” Lambda should be banned from campus,” said Brisbane. “I don’t think they should be affiliated with Cal Poly.”
KCOY 12 reached out to the Lambda Chi Alpha organization for comment but did not get a response.
