Lack of ethnic dialogue a problem

In Bridget Newman's column in the Sept. 17 edition of The Chronicle, the characterization of "the border control" as thugs, rapists and murderers is very out of line.  

Immigration and Naturalization Services ("the border control") is an important law enforcement agency of the United States. The members of this organization certainly are not thugs, rapists or murderers. She feels that it is inappropriate to imply "that all Latinos are undocumented immigrants," but has no qualms flat-out stating that officials of the United States Government routinely injure, rape and murder people crossing the border between the United States and Mexico.  

Sigma Chi has been insensitive to Mexicans. It is also important to note that Sigma Chi had no intention to denigrate Mexican culture. Newman's claim that the student body's attendance at the party signaled their acceptance of the theme is false. Students do not find frat parties acceptable based on themes; they find frat parties acceptable based on the amount of alcohol available. The administration in their position as racism police should have been aware of the cultural anguish that such things as expired green cards cause, and they should never have let the theme go forward. The administration of fraternities and sororities needs to be more representative of the diverse views on campus to prevent this from happening in the future. 

But attacking the themes of frat parties does not further Duke toward the elimination of racism. Opening a discussion between fraternities and sororities of different ethnic groups would be a better route to solving the problem of racism. Ms. Newman's reductio od absurdum, calling for a fraternity party theme of "Everybody's All White," widens the chasm between members of different ethnicities. I would challenge Ms. Newman to use her words to provide a solution to the self-segregation of ethnic groups instead of merely crying about the racist themes used by campus organizations.