UCLA DAILY BRUIN Wednesday, May 22, 1968

IFC judicial board suggests probation for Phi Kappa Psi

By John Parker

DB Staff Writer

The Interfraternity Council's (IFC) judicial board recommended yesterday that Phi Kappa Psi fraternity be placed on social probation until next January for "flagrant violations of the standards of good taste and common sense."

The recommendation became effective last night upon ratification by the IFC President's Council.

The judicial board's recommendation fell short of United Mexican American Students' (UMAS) demands that the fraternity's charter be revoked.

UMAS protested the "decoration" which appeared last Saturday night on the Phi Kappa Psi house for the fraternity's "Viva Zapata" party-a replica of the Mexican flag, but instead of the eagle there was a picture of a hand with the middle finger extended.

UMAS also objected to a "closed party" sign posted on the house with a long list of "restrictions" including "no Negro, No Jap, no dog, no LBJ."

Reynaldo Macias presented UMAS' protest to the IFC judicial board and said that "these things aren't jokes anymore; they aren't funny anymore.

"What happened was not only a slap and an insult at minorities in this country," Macias added, "it was an example of white shallowness and unwillingness to understand the feelings of minorities.

"We demand the revocation of the charter of this fraternity and nothing less," Macias concluded.

Macias also read from a letter written by David Sanchez, assistant professor of mathematics, which was sent to the Academic Senate and which stated: "As a Mexican American member of this faculty I must insist that this gross display of stupidity and racism not go unpunished."

Sanchez called on the faculty to "take appropriate action of censure as well as approval of the action of UMAS."

Chris Lee, president of Phi Kappa Psi, said that neither the flag nor the sign was meant as a slur against Mexican Americans or any other minorities.

He said that the sign was a satire on discrimination in the society. Lee said that he couldn't condone the display of the flag, although he insisted that the fraternity members' actions were not due to racial prejudice.

"Maybe we were innocent, maybe we were stupid, maybe we were silly," Lee said, "but we weren't being prejudiced."