University of Virginia Library

Black League Seeks
Fraternity Apology

By PHIL KIMBALL

The Afro-American Student
Association will request a public apology
from the president of the Kappa Sigma
fraternity after approximately eleven
black students were allegedly asked to
leave the house Saturday night during an
open rush party.

The association is also planning to ask
the Inter-Fraternity Council to take action
against the house for violating open rush
regulations.

According to a spokesman for the
association, the students were dancing when
they were pushed aside by a brother identified
as Phil Cocke, a third-year student in the
Commerce School. Later, the students were
asked by Mr. Cocke to move from in front of
the band where they were dancing. When asked
whether or not the party was open, Mr. Cocke
replied that it was "our" party.

Students Return

Mr. Cocke reportedly returned to the group
with the house doorman. A student again asked
if the party was open to all University students
to which the doorman replied negatively, saying
that it was "their" party. The students then
asked to see the president of the fraternity and
were again referred to Mr. Cocke, who then said
that the party was closed and that the students
should leave.

Brian Cash, president of the house, when
questioned later stated that he had not met the
students at all during the incident.

Later in the evening several members of the
expelled group returned to "settle this like
men" and thinking that Mr. Cocke was the
president of the house asked him why they
were forced to leave. According to a spokesman
for the group, Mr. Cocke replied that it was
"because you were in the front of the room.
You took up too much room and wouldn't
spread out." The students then left the house.

A member of the group emphasized the fact
that throughout the whole incident no violence
was used. He also stated that several students in
the group had been personally asked by another
member of the fraternity to attend the party
even though the party was open to all
University students anyway. They were not
informed until yesterday that Mr. Cocke was
not the president of the fraternity and
therefore not representing the views of the
fraternity.

Cash Apologizes

When asked about the incident yesterday,
Mr. Cash offered a public apology. "I regret,"
he said, "that this incident ever occurred for
there can be no excuse. Speaking for myself
and the fraternity, I can assure any students
who were insulted that this behavior will not be
condoned. We have called a special meeting to
discuss a course of action which will make
certain that similar incidents will not be
tolerated in the future."

He continued to state that "Mr. Cocke acted
out of his own misguided bias and did not
represent the view of the fraternity. I can make
no defense for him, but I do apologize to the
students involved both for myself and for the
fraternity."

When contacted, Mr. Cocke stated that 15
to 25 black students and their dates were
dancing near the band; and he asked them to
spread out to make room for him and his date
to dance. He claimed that he did not remember
asking them to leave but did recall pushing one
of the girls, causing her drink to be spilled on
her.

He said that he went outside to ask the
doorman to request that the black students
spread out. He reported that he remained
outside when the doorman went in. Mr. Cocke
commented that he assumed the doorman must
have asked the students to leave. Mr. Cocke said
that he was aware at the time that the
individuals were University students.

He stated that he spoke to the students
when they returned but denied telling them
that he was the president of the house.