Columbia sorority accused of ‘oppression’ for wearing sombreros and mustaches

A sorority at Columbia University is being accused of oppression after photos surfaced on Facebook of an Olympic-themed party in which some students wore sombreros and mustaches and carried maracas and tequila.

“Stereotypes are used to oppress marginalized communities. These pictures caricaturize Mexican culture and should not be overlooked,” read a statement from the school’s Chicano Caucus, according to an article in The Columbia Spectator, the official student newspaper.

“The attire trivializes an entire nation’s history, its peoples, and its cultures, reducing them to a mere mustache and sombrero,” the statement continued.

Kappa Alpha Theta President Katie Barclay issued an apology to the Caucus, who told the newspaper that they “appreciated the gesture.”

The statement from the Chicano Caucus also stressed that the sorority’s intentions do not matter.

“While we understand that the actions taken by these members may not have intended to be harmful, they were in fact offensive,” it said.

Other costumes included a student dressed up as Ireland holding a sign that read “Kiss me, I’m a famined potato,” and students dressed up as France in striped shirts and berets, according to an article in Bustle.

The Chicano Caucus will be hosting an open meeting on Thursday to discuss the event.

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