Arizona State University announced Thursday evening a fraternity was kicked off campus following a racist party the Greek organization held in conjunction with the national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tau Kappa Epsilon was notified this week its recognition as a fraternity at the university was permanently revoked by ASU, spokeswoman Sharon Keeler said. TKE was suspended Monday for holding an "MLK Black Party" where attendees were encouraged to wear jerseys, drink from watermelon cups and guests posted photos on Instagram with the hashtags #blackoutformlk and #hood.
The party took place Sunday. After photos made their way to social media, the university suspended TKE on Monday while it began speaking with fraternity representatives.
The university found fault with the fraternity holding an unregistered, off-campus party while it was on social probation, which "created an environment conducive to underage consumption of alcohol."
TKE was previously suspended following the participation of some of its members in a brawl at an off-campus apartment in 2012.
ASU is continuing to investigate the actions of individual fraternity members and other students who may have attended the party to review whether any other violations of the student code of conduct occurred, Keeler said, warning more punishment may lay ahead.
The "ASU Student Code of Conduct sets forth the standards of conduct expected of students who choose to join our university community," Arizona State President Michael M. Crow said in a statement. "At ASU, students who violate these standards will be subject to disciplinary sanctions in order to promote their own personal development, to protect the university community, and to maintain order and stability on our campuses."
ASU noted it holds an annual MLK Breakfast to celebrate Dr. King's legacy, as well as an annual "March on West," which reenacts the "I Have a Dream" speech for hundreds of local middle-school students. The university also recently made available a previously unknown recording of a speech Dr. King delivered at ASU in June 1964.