A fraternity at Yale is facing criticism after several students accused the group of practicing racism. According to Yale University student Neema Gathere, the SAE fraternity held an off-campus party on Halloween night where only White girls were allowed to enter.
In Githere’s Facebook post, she explains what occurred, “I’d just like to take a moment to give a shout-out to the member of Yale’s SAE chapter who turned away a group of girls from their party last night, explaining that admittance was on a ‘White Girls Only’ basis and a belated shout-out to the SAE member who turned me and my friends away for the same reason last year.”
Other students who were present at the party said Black and Latino students were denied entry into the off-campus party. However, White female students were allowed to enter the party after a member of SAE yelled, “We’re looking for White girls only!”
There is apparently a culture of racism that has been allowed to exist for years within the fraternity. Although Yale SAE president denied the claim that race played a role at the party, it’s important to note that SAE has a history of racist actions.
SAE, which stands for Sigma Alpha Epsilon, dealt with a racial incident recently. In March of 2015, the Oklahoma chapter was suspended after a racist video went viral. In the video, White members of SAE chant, “There will never be a n—– SAE. There will never be a n—– SAE. You can hang him from a tree, but he will never sign with me. There will never be a n—– SAE.”
Other Black students at Yale shared their experience with racism at an SAE party while commenting on Githere’s Facebook post. “Brings back memories of a time when, after having let my friend in, I tried to enter and they barricaded the door, asking if I even go to Yale and demanding an ID,” Black student Hershel Holiday wrote.
An Hispanic student responded by posting, “Reminds me of the time they asked me and a group of other Latino, predominantly Mexican, friends for our passports when we tried to go to their [crappy] party a little over a year ago,” Ivonne Gonzalez wrote. “So sorry this s— is still happening! Can’t stand those rich, spoiled and rude brats.”
Yale University officials are currently investigating the organization.
