OSU president announced candlelight vigil

<br>STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ The Oklahoma State University and Stillwater communities have been invited to a candlelight vigil organized after racially insensitive photos shot during a fraternity party

Saturday, September 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ The Oklahoma State University and Stillwater communities have been invited to a candlelight vigil organized after racially insensitive photos shot during a fraternity party were publicized.

OSU President James Halligan announced a Candlelight Vigil for Diversity, set for Tuesday evening at the school library. In a prepared statement issued on Friday, Halligan criticized the behavior of Alpha Gamma Rho members.

``The entire Oklahoma State University community has been harmed by the offensive and unacceptable behavior of fraternity members at a costume party and the resulting racist pictures,'' Halligan said in a prepared statement. ``I am deeply disappointed and offended at their thoughtless behavior, even as I am proud of the dignified way in which our African-American students are addressing the incident.''

On Sept. 20, the fraternity held an off-campus costume party in which three Alpha Gamma Rho members mimicked a Ku Klux Klan lynching. One fraternity member wore a Klan robe and hood, while another wore black-face makeup and ``prisoner's'' clothing.

A third fraternity member mimicked whipping the student wearing black-face makeup, according to photographs that were posted on the Internet.

Fraternity President Brad Adkinson issued a letter of apology, and the three unnamed members were suspended by the local chapter adviser.

In addition to having the fraternity chapter undergo a cultural sensitivity program, OSU is seeking to have it censured by its national organization.

The fraternity will forego its participation in homecoming activities to begin implementing an extensive plan of education and public service to atone for the incident, Halligan said.