The Region - News from May 1, 1985

About 1,000 fraternity and sorority members gathered at UCLA to protest a university ban on theme parties imposed because of complaints that some of the events were vulgar or demeaned minorities. The fraternities and sororities demanded that the school cancel a moratorium on theme parties and that the administration end what the members said were efforts to gain more control over student organizations. The ban was imposed after other student groups complained that parties such as Viva Zapata Night and Tequila Sunrise, at which some students dressed in Mexican costumes, were demeaning to Latinos. “This is not a protest against any group,” David Kingsdale, chief justice of the Interfraternity Council, said. “This is to show that Greeks can unite when their backs are against the wall.”