WSU Panel To Explore Racism, Violence Issues Committee Convened After Frat Fight, But Parties Say Fracas Wasn’T Racial

Washington State University and the school’s Greek system are coping with the aftermath of a fight in August that has stirred questions of racism and violence on campus.

The university and two fraternities said Thursday the fight, which involved an African American freshman, had nothing to do with race. Even so, the university has formed a council to examine race issues on the Pullman campus.

The fraternities have pledged to work together to dissolve tensions between two houses and help pay for dental work for Atuanya Priester, 18, who lost his front teeth in the fight.

“We hope that now we can work together to make something positive come out of this,” said Tony Tanhueco, president of Alpha Kappa Lambda.

Shortly after arriving in Pullman from Seattle, Priester was involved in a brawl in front of Alpha Kappa Lambda, the fraternity he had just pledged. A number of people were involved in the fight, including members of Priester’s fraternity and Pi Kappa Alpha, according to police reports.

In an interview a few days later, Priester said he didn’t remember anyone in the assault, only that he was knocked to the ground and something - a fist or foot or elbow - hit his face.

It didn’t occur to Priester that the fight had anything to do with his skin color.

“I really think it’s about stupidity and male testosterone,” he said.

But the incident prompted talk of race issues.

A group called Black Men Making a Difference visited the freshman a few days after the fight to offer their encouragement and support.

“It could have happened to any one of us,” said Jose Gutierrez, a member of the group. “We wanted him to know we were here for him.”

Priester welcomed their visit.

“I was impressed,” he said, smiling a fractured grin. “I appreciated them coming over here. They make me feel like I have someone who shares my skin color to support me.”

WSU President Lane Rawlins has formed the Council on University Climate and Safety to address issues of intolerance, racism, violence and safety on campus. The council, which held its first meeting Tuesday, includes 20 students and 10 members of WSU’s faculty and staff. The meeting was closed to the public so council members could speak freely, said Hugh Imhoff, WSU spokesman.

The university wants to make it clear that the fight involving Priester wasn’t about race, Imhoff said.

“But we’re not saying there are no issues about race on campus,” he said. “This committee will do its work because racism is a real concern for people here.”

In addition, the two fraternity houses involved in the fight have been meeting with each other and the school in order to clear their own reputations from allegations of racism.

The presidents of both Alpha Kappa Lambda and Pi Kappa Alpha say they’re among the most integrated houses in the Greek system.

“We want the real story to come out,” said Chris Smith, president of Pi Kappa Alpha. “The fight had a limited number of students. It seems like a one-on-one fight with a lot of people trying to break it up.”

Rumors that the fight was about rivalry between the fraternities are overblown, Smith said. “We have some rivalry, but not so much as people make it out to be,” he said, adding that the incident has instead brought the houses closer together.

“Nothing like this will happen in the future, I’ll tell you that right now,” Smith said.

A student involved in the fight turned himself in to Pullman police several weeks ago, but he hasn’t been charged. The fraternities have agreed to organize a fund-raiser to help pay for the surgery Priester will need to replace one tooth and move another back to its original place.

Priester said he’s not going to let the incident affect his schooling or his attitude about WSU.

“I’m not going home,” he said. “I’m here for a reason.”