Duke Fraternity Pi Kappa Phi Had a “Pilgrims and Indians” Party, and People* Got Very Angry
Those damn frat boys at Duke were at it again last month just prior to Thanksgiving. Take it away, Nicole Daniels of the Chronicle:
The following is an excerpt from the fraternity’s email invitation: “In 1621 some crazy pilgrims had a pretty brutal harvest. Word on the street was they didn’t have enough food for half the bros in Plymouth. Then some hot natives came along with some extra food.… On Saturday, the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi will be honoring that party spirit. There will be a cornucopia of treats in our modern-day teepee. Tap into your inner pocahotness, wear a few feathers and party like you don’t care if you survive the winter.”
… The fraternity took on a terrible history of colonialism and genocide and turned it into a sexy party theme. The language in their invitation (“hot natives” and “pocahotness”) sexualizes the Native American race. Having learned the theme just hours before the party, it was too late for me to try and stop it.
It isn’t often you read about outrage at a college theme party … especially at a school like Duke. But Daniels clearly was very unhappy: “The makeup and costumes I saw were both completely inaccurate and disrespectful. Headdresses and feathers have profound spiritual significance to Native Americans, and mimicking them is extremely offensive. A massive teepee stood outside the party, serving as a photo op for the obnoxiously dressed guests to pose with.”
Duke’s Native American Student Alliance is pissed. The Pi Kaps didn’t respond to a query from Daniels. As this story gains traction in the coming hours/days, look for the following to happen: Apology issued by the fraternity. Story gets picked up by ‘The View’/other crappy daytime talk shows. Larger Native American groups step in and call for further action. Pi Kaps kow-tow to pressure and boot whoever organized the party from his leadership role, or maybe the Duke Pi Kap President.
Just admit this: At the age of 18 or 19, you would have totally gone to the party, and you’re curious to see pictures of alleged Duke “pocahotness.” We’ve love to see some photos from the event. Kindly drop us a line if you’ve got any: JMcIntyre@TheBigLead.com or TheBigLead@Gmail.com. [Duke Chronicle via Rush the Court]
* This is obviously a joke; Daniels and Amber Richardson both seem to be the only ones peeved about this. For now.

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124 Responses to “Duke Fraternity Pi Kappa Phi Had a “Pilgrims and Indians” Party, and People* Got Very Angry”
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December 6th, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Depends, how weak is my game? How lame is my hair?
December 6th, 2011 at 11:16 AM
The fraternity took on a terrible history of colonialism and genocide and turned it into a sexy party theme.
So? Pilgrims and Indians? Seems harmless. It was a costume party. Every Halloween party has a sexy theme.
The language in their invitation (“hot natives” and “pocahotness”) sexualizes the Native American race
What does the author of this sentence think about Casinos not located in Vegas? Or the reservations in the Dakotas?
December 6th, 2011 at 11:17 AM
1. Fuck Duke
but…
2. If this is the sort of thing that offends you to your core, life is going to be very, very hard for you, Ms. Daniels.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Is this Nicole Daniels’ first experience with greek theme parties? Historical accuracy is not a high priority.
Just admit this: At the age of 18 or 19, you would have totally gone to the party,
Well, yeah.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Duke boys making my fraternity proud. Assholes.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Great caption BTW. Also, is that statue really in existence on Duke’s campus? Pretty awful.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:18 AM
People dress up as mass murderers for Halloween all the time. I don’t see why they’re upset over a little sexy-Pocahontas.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:19 AM
I’d also remind everyone that if they think this is offensive there is a team in the most popular league in the country named the REDSKINS, and they represent our nation’s capital.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Good to see she doesn’t think too much of her importance.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Give em some fire water and Eagles albums.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:21 AM
It’s always a good day when bad things happen in Raleigh-Durham.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:21 AM
I’d also remind everyone that if they think this is offensive there is a team in the most popular league in the country named the REDSKINS, and they represent our nation’s capital.
That too. Unbelievable how Marquette had to ditch the “warrior” nickname with an accurate logo while DC and Cleveland get to keep their racist caricatures for mascots.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:21 AM
I’d like to see this Nicole Daniels get upset at the numerous ‘white trash bash’ parties that fraternities all over the country hold every year. Would her self-righteous indignation extend to the ‘inaccurate’ ways that people from the sticks are portrayed?
December 6th, 2011 at 11:21 AM
People who enjoy being offended and indignant about everything are the fucking worst…”party like you don’t care if you survive the winter” is quite funny, by the way.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:21 AM
Duke’s Native American Student Alliance is pissed.
They just need to justify their existence and have something to do.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Until Duffy’s post this afternoon about it.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Why am I limited to 18 or 19? I’m 32, send me an invite brah. I’ll even bring the baby, chicks dig babies.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Like figuring out why the hell they’re at Duke and not UNC Pembroke.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:23 AM
TBL’s leading the charge in the global war on racist face painting.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Duke’s Native American Student Alliance is pissed.
I’ve heard of the Student LGBT Alliance, but I wasn’t aware that there were enough Native Americans left for them to ally with one another at an institution of higher learning.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Chief Wahoo is a symbol of respect and honor.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:23 AM
I haven’t seen Miz complain that the redneck stereotype is inaccurate in any way.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:24 AM
/masturbates furiously
//checks mail
///refreshes mail again
December 6th, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Nothing tops Red Man chewing tobacco and Firewater schnapps as far as racially insensitive yet delicious products go.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Pemicann beef jerky.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:25 AM
As a fan of racial stereotypes and a resident of Arizona, let me be the first to say that most Indians are not hot. At all.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:25 AM
That too. Unbelievable how Marquette had to ditch the “warrior” nickname with an accurate logo while DC and Cleveland get to keep their racist caricatures for mascots.
While I partially agree with you about the Redskins and Indians, I think the NCAA also took their crusade against Native American mascots way too far. There was a story a couple of years that that they required William and Mary to remove the feathers from this logo because it was deemed offensive.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:25 AM
I love a good theme party. Some of my favorites.
1. Wine Party — Dress up in cheesy dressy outfits, crush wine, and listen to Sinatra.
2. High School Glory Days — Dress up in your high school sports outfits\letter jackets. Drink Beast\Natty\ect. Hang awards on wall. Listen to appropriate music for time period of high school.
3. Pink Party — Everyone dresses in pink. Make massive amounts of the “Pink” drink that everyone seems to have a different name for.
4. 80s Party – Self Explanatory, but always are fun.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Duke Fraternity Pi Kappa Phi…
…needs more lacrosse players. Then this shit would be interestin’…
December 6th, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Unbelievable how Marquette had to ditch the “warrior” nickname
St.John’s Redmen
North Dakota (I think) Fighting Sioux
Hey, while we’re at it, let’s rename Sioux City, and all the other towns across the country with Indian names.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:26 AM
I haven’t seen Miz complain that the redneck stereotype is inaccurate in any way.
Kind of my point when I put the “” around “inaccurate”.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Pocahotness
+1
December 6th, 2011 at 11:26 AM
This post also reminds me of that time in the Roundup where Pastor Bromes stated that the Native Americans were already killing each other off before the white man came.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:26 AM
is the facepainting really racist if they’re dressing up as people that painted their faces themselves?
December 6th, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Looks like someone needs to buy her a Cigar Store Indian.
Hey Jerry look what I got!
December 6th, 2011 at 11:27 AM
While checking out the party, Daniels noticed a young lady walking home from the party in a poorly made costume. When asked why she was leaving the party, the young lady responded “I’m just not Inuit tonight”.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Favorite Redman lyric: Best part about it? I got AIDS, bitch! … psych!
December 6th, 2011 at 11:27 AM
that must’ve been back when custer was only a lowly kernel.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:27 AM
There was a story a couple of years that that they required William and Mary to remove the feathers from this logo because it was deemed offensive.
But it’s perfectly okay for FSU’s mascot to ride out to the 50 yard line on a horse in face paint with a flaming spear. Can’t do that in Illinois though. Figure that one out.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:27 AM
The only problem here of course is that very few Duke girls are hot so I’m not sure how much “pocahotness” there would be to see.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Even I wanna’ see the Pocahotness pictures.
/We love costumes.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:27 AM
I think she’s just mad that she wasn’t invited. Hence the part about not finding out in time to stop it.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:27 AM
4. 80s Party – Self Explanatory, but always are fun.
That’s offensive to Gordon Gekko’s descendants.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:28 AM
How tragic. Lighten up, Francis.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:28 AM
lol
December 6th, 2011 at 11:28 AM
you’re kidding
December 6th, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Tell me that’s a real statue.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:29 AM
4. 80s Party – Self Explanatory, but always are fun.
Worst fashion decade ever.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:29 AM
About it existing or it being delicious? Because it’s real and it is marvelous.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:29 AM
it was too late for me to try and stop it
Clearly she was worried about the Whitlock backlash on Twitter
December 6th, 2011 at 11:29 AM
But it’s perfectly okay for FSU’s mascot to ride out to the 50 yard line on a horse in face paint with a flaming spear. Can’t do that in Illinois though. Figure that one out.
The Seminole Tribe backed Florida State’s use of ‘Seminole’.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Duke admits them because their more likely to get the financial aid for the ridiculous tuition.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:30 AM
As much as I detest the semenholes, they actually have the express permission from the Seminole nation to use the logo and the mascot.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:30 AM
It was a Creek fraternity, so it was okay.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Sugar Hill Gang can make a comeback now.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Even I wanna’ see the Pocahotness pictures.
/We love costumes.
+1. I laughed.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:31 AM
But it’s perfectly okay for FSU’s mascot to ride out to the 50 yard line on a horse in face paint with a flaming spear.
I was wrong about the Crosby living situation in the previous post, but doesn’t FSU pay the Seminole tribe a fee so they can use the mascot?
December 6th, 2011 at 11:31 AM
I did Rapper’s Delight at karaoke two weeks ago, nailed it.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:31 AM
\
Or because they did well enough to get in.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:32 AM
I think the board of trustees had finally grown tired of seeing a white college student put on a dress and suffer a seizure at halfcourt.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:32 AM
im offended by the name “blue devils.”
/the fugate’s of kentucky
December 6th, 2011 at 11:32 AM
excellent use of kowtow, TBL.
and who know that frat boys were clever enough to come up with Pocahotness
December 6th, 2011 at 11:32 AM
As much as I detest the semenholes, they actually have the express permission from the Seminole nation to use the logo and the mascot.
From my understanding, didn’t the Illinois have the same permission? And doesn’t North Dakota have to get rid of the “fighting souix” nickname even though they received the okay as well?
December 6th, 2011 at 11:32 AM
+1 to Cowboy Mike for a Lumberton reference.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Wow puns are back in play here on TBL? looks like I picked the wrong year to stay away.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Nicole Daniels would not be a fan of the University of Utah’s cheerleaders either.
/so inaccurate
//and hot
///especially the blond
December 6th, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Maybe they got the idea from grammar school.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedkerwin/3065106663/in/set-72157616500310763
December 6th, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Well who invited all the blue noses to this here juice joint? I’ve seen many a wet blanket in my day but protecting the injuns? Horsefeathers I say. Go get some giggle water and pipe down before you scare off all the birds.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:34 AM
ive seen many a poxed blanked contaminating the indians, if that counts.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Contract the Blackhawks!
December 6th, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Your argument would be valid…if UND had received permission from all three tribes. They didn’t, so now they’re searching for a new nickname
December 6th, 2011 at 11:35 AM
I wonder if “Cherokee” Parks attended?
December 6th, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Your argument would be valid…if UND had received permission from all three tribes. They didn’t, so now they’re searching for a new nickname
Should have just given them a tax free casino and called it a day.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Duke is full of brahs, it doesn’t surprise me at all.
/good friend of mine got his MBA there
//he’s a dick, not gonna lie
December 6th, 2011 at 11:36 AM
The most offensive costume I ever saw was at a Halloween party a few years back. This kid dressed up in full priest garb, and he had this 3-foot doll fastened face down to his body, so it looked like the doll was giving him a blowjob. Wow.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Winner. +1
December 6th, 2011 at 11:36 AM
/good friend of mine got his MBA there
//he’s a dick, not gonna lie
He sleep with Karen Owen too?
December 6th, 2011 at 11:37 AM
pictures please
December 6th, 2011 at 11:37 AM
The fraternity took on a terrible history of colonialism and genocide and turned it into a sexy party theme.
aint no party theme like a sexy party theme
December 6th, 2011 at 11:37 AM
This kid dressed up in full priest garb, and he had this 3-foot doll fastened face down to his body, so it looked like the doll was giving him a blowjob. Wow.
Oh, I’ve seen that one a bunch of times.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:37 AM
From my understanding, didn’t the Illinois have the same permission? And doesn’t North Dakota have to get rid of the “fighting souix” nickname even though they received the okay as well?
I thought that some members of the Sioux Nation were opposed, and the division is ultimately why that university was not backed up with the NCAA. But I could be mistaken.
If only fetch were here to tell us about it….
December 6th, 2011 at 11:37 AM
If they ever touch our logo I’m scalping everyone involved.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:39 AM
I can’t wait until Rutgers has a toga party and the Don of New Jersey files an injunction.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:39 AM
chicago wirtzes.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Someone did this during Halloween this year, only he was wearing a Tim Tebow jersey and used a blow up doll with the words “Tebow Hype Machine” written on it.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Skip Bayless was in your neighborhood?
December 6th, 2011 at 11:41 AM
+ 1 Trail of Tears
Well look at this raycess that showed up.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:41 AM
I have photo evidence of being at a toga party at Rutgers in 2001.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:42 AM
would it have been ok as a theme if it wasn’t sexy?
December 6th, 2011 at 11:43 AM
True and true.
Ms. Daniels, as someone much older than you, I’d advise you to lighten up. You will have plenty of time for real outrage when you start looking for a job after college.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Love it.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Cowboy you beat me to it …
it was too late for me to try and stop it.
Self-importance and self-appointed judge-jury are two of the worst personal traits a person can have.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:46 AM
You will have plenty of time for real outrage when you start looking for a job after college.
Boom! She might want to start filling out college loan payment forbearance papers now. I’m sure she’s got at least a couple of loans there at Duke.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:48 AM
bet she didn’t bat an eyelash going to pimps ‘n’ ho’s sexxxy bash 2011.
my school newspaper ran an editorial outrage about MXC, someone took offense at that show.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:50 AM
In college, I wanted to dress up as Superman, and put a straw in my mouth and have someone push me around in a wheelchair. However I had trouble locating a wheelchair, and Superman costumes are mad expensive.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:51 AM
The saddle on that high horse is available at TBL, looks like we have a new writer for the blog.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Having learned the theme just hours before the party, it was too late for me to try and stop it.
This would have been epic, like when Kent busted in on that party in Real Genius.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:53 AM
In college, I wanted to dress up as Superman, and put a straw in my mouth and have someone push me around in a wheelchair. However I had trouble locating a wheelchair, and Superman costumes are mad expensive.
I wanted someone to be Katrina and have a supersoaker and just spray everyone with water constantly.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:54 AM
/fixed
December 6th, 2011 at 11:56 AM
At least it was a “Pilgrims & Indians” party, themed around them getting along. We had a “Cowboys & Indians” party once a year, and that didn’t spark any outrage.
/cowboys & indians more geographically correct out here
//at least we had that going for us
December 6th, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Well the Pilgrims isn’t exactly accurate for the mid-Atlantic coast, but no one showed up for the Roanoke Colony-themed party…
December 6th, 2011 at 11:57 AM
i wore a tux and told people i stopped paying attention to the words they were saying after “dress up.”
December 6th, 2011 at 11:58 AM
If I had been in the U.S. last year, I would have gone as the BP Oil Spill on Halloween.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Duke’s Native American Student Alliance is 1/16th pissed.
/fixed
+1 minority scholarship to a person who by all appearances is not a minority
December 6th, 2011 at 11:59 AM
What you did there. I see it.
December 6th, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Well the Pilgrims isn’t exactly accurate for the mid-Atlantic coast, but no one showed up for the Roanoke Colony-themed party…
Word is that they showed up but then disappeared into the Croatan part across the street.
/history jokes teh funny
December 6th, 2011 at 12:00 PM
You could have gone stag, and just said that your date dressed up as FEMA and just didn’t get there yet.
December 6th, 2011 at 12:01 PM
You could have gone stag, and just said that your date dressed up as FEMA and just didn’t get there yet.
That’s fantastic
December 6th, 2011 at 12:01 PM
You could have gone stag, and just said that your date dressed up as FEMA and just didn’t get there yet.
Wouldn’t they also require him to wear blackface?
/Kanye’d
December 6th, 2011 at 12:03 PM
but no one showed up for the Roanoke Colony-themed party…
What you did there. I see it.
Hurricane washed those poor bastards out to sea right? Or was it aliens.
/ignores the possibility that they died of disease or just moved on and died somewhere else
December 6th, 2011 at 12:04 PM
but no one showed up for the Roanoke Colony-themed party… and yet empty red solo cups and ping pong balls were all over the ground
December 6th, 2011 at 12:05 PM
/ignores the possibility that they died of disease or just moved on and died somewhere else
The latter is most likely what happened. Some researchers have been doing genetic testing to see if some modern descendants of the Croatan tribe bear any relation to the English settlers that disappeared.
December 6th, 2011 at 12:07 PM
The latter is most likely what happened. Some researchers have been doing genetic testing to see if some modern descendants of the Croatan tribe bear any relation to the English settlers that disappeared
Whatever dude. I’m drawing my own conclusions and sticking to the Aliens theory.
/resumes hunt for McNair’s real killer
December 6th, 2011 at 12:08 PM
We hired a stripper for my buddy’s bachelor party in a pocahontas outfit. Except she called herself: “Strokahontas”. It was a good night.
December 6th, 2011 at 12:08 PM
This in an of itself is a whole new fascinating topic… we can trace human ancestry back to Africa and across the land bridge from Asia. Using mutation analysis, you can figure out relatedness, and when different people became isolated from each other. I should know a lot more about it than I do (not really my area of genetics, unfortunately)
December 6th, 2011 at 12:12 PM
that’s outstanding
December 6th, 2011 at 12:13 PM
While reading this post, all I could think of is this.
December 6th, 2011 at 12:13 PM
WRONG.
god made us this way.
December 6th, 2011 at 12:15 PM
god made us this way.
He used a McRib or something, right?
December 6th, 2011 at 12:16 PM
This was in NYC for about 2 days a couple weeks ago.
December 6th, 2011 at 12:24 PM
croatan
December 6th, 2011 at 12:26 PM
I understand the humor… but just to clarify, I’m talking about human movement, not touching speciation at all.
December 6th, 2011 at 12:29 PM
I understand the humor… but just to clarify, I’m talking about human movement, not touching speciation at all.
/plays “Miracles” by ISP.
//Magnets…how the fuck do they work?
December 6th, 2011 at 1:03 PM
New rule…if something is not offensive (i.e. gender, race, ect.) towards you, you can not act offended.