Arizona State University’s Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) chapter is getting a lot of backlash after throwing an MLK event this weekend in remembrance of “milk,” as in the beverage.
“No one uses vowels anymore. Of course MLK stands for milk. It’s like a vanity plate,” said sorority president Lisa Henderson in a chapter meeting. “Like how my license plate says, 'PRNCZZ7,’ for Princess 7, obviously.”
Henderson, a junior communications major, thought that the holiday meant to commemorate civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was actually a day to remember milk, owing to the rise of milk substitutes.
“I’m pretty sure milk is endangered or something,” Henderson wrote on the Facebook event page. “Think about it. When was the last time you saw a cow or a milkman or those Got Milk ads we loved so much growing up? Why do you think there is almond milk, soy milk and coconut milk? Every day there’s a new milk substitute and it’s because we’re having a milk shortage, and no one is talking about it. We must raise awareness to this important day by throwing a milk themed party!”
The party took place Sunday night. All the sorority members dressed from head to toe in white, to “look like the beverage,” but their outfits seemed to “resemble a KKK uniform and it didn’t help that their sorority name is KKG,” according to a party guest.
For the event, the house was decorated with posters of cows, and the only drinks served were almond milk White Russians because “serving milk products would be cruel.”
The sorority has also picketed coffee shops like Starbucks and groceries stores like Trader Joe's in hopes of getting the retailers to “observe MLK day by not selling milk.”
“Oh, that’s what they were doing? Judging by their infinity scarves and Ugg boots, I thought they were protesting because we stopped selling pumpkin-spiced lattes,” said Jared Logan, a Starbucks barista by the college.
“I knew that MLK day was for the civil rights leader,” said Samantha Jacobs, a pledge. “But any time I voiced my opinion, I was told I knew nothing because I’m a freshman.”
Jacobs wasn’t the only one to notice this mistake. Aside from the college being primarily white, other students saw the mistake but played along because they found it “hilarious.”
“Lisa is pretty much a tyrant, once she makes up her mind on something, there’s not stopping her,” said one of her sorority sisters, who chose to remain nameless because of fear of hazing.
This debacle is coming at the heels of University of Maryland’s Delta Gamma N-word cake in December, when a sorority member received a three-layer alcohol cake with the phrase “Suck a n--ga d--k” inscribed on it for her birthday.
“Racism and sororities seem to go together like white girls and duckface,” a party goer captioned on an Instagram at the party.
College officials are now just getting wind of this, due to the many Instagram photos from the event. ASU president Michael M. Crow commented by saying he was “embarrassed on behalf of the chapter, and there will be a punishment for those involved.”
“We raised over $500 for milk on Sunday,” Henderson wrote in the caption of her car selfie. “I am beyond proud of my sisters. I think it’s safe to say that no one will forget MLK this year. We are already preparing for next year’s MLK Day.”
