The University of Texas at Austin isn't punishing a campus fraternity for a "border patrol" party, saying the Greek house didn't violate any university rules, according to the student newspaper The Daily Texan.
The party, thrown by the UT chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, or FIJI, reportedly featured fraternity members wearing "sombreros, ponchos, and construction hats with names such as 'Jefe' and 'Pablo Sanchez' written on them," The Texan reports. A UT administrator told The Texan that FIJI did not violate any campus rules because the party was held off campus.
The official UT Twitter account wrote, "While the behavior doesn't mirror UT core values, it's within students' right to freedom of speech at private off campus event."
The UT FIJI president originally defended the party to The Texan as a "western-themed party which focuses on the traditional old west." However, The Texan reports, "several party attendees said the party theme was communicated as 'border patrol.'"
After news of the party broke in early February, hundreds of people protested the FIJI fraternity house:
Watch: On Thursday, students, faculty and staff protested outside the Fiji house: http://t.co/wnsbUsSPoY pic.twitter.com/cUOP3frBXW
- The Daily Texan (@thedailytexan) February 13, 2015
Texas students upset about 'border patrol' party http://t.co/rQEi3Uo9NS pic.twitter.com/4965ey0GRs
- KXVA FOX Abilene (@FOXAbilene) February 13, 2015
Here are some pictures from the FIJI "border patrol" party:
#UT frat throws "border patrol" party- http://t.co/8E4XtTw6rH pic.twitter.com/kaFKPOHwux
- Austin (@SunTimesAUS) February 9, 2015
University of Texas fraternity under fire for hosting a "border patrol" party: http://t.co/9BNd5BszWe pic.twitter.com/ObZw2JVdLN
- SFGate (@SFGate) February 9, 2015
Hundreds rally at UT against frat's alleged 'Border Patrol' party http://t.co/jnKg7sERLy #KSATnews pic.twitter.com/mmQ0ZDkbMR
- KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) February 13, 2015