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UF Student Senate meeting at law school to discuss blackface incident

During tonight's Student Senate meeting at UF, senators will discuss the use of blackface at a fraternity party last week, as reported by The Alligator.

Two Beta Theta Pi members used blackface as a part of their costumes for a "rock stars and rappers" themed party.

Most Senate meetings are held in the Reitz Union, but tonight's meeting will be held at the law school. This meeting is at 7:30 p.m. in Room 180 at the Levin College of Law.

Only "10 black students are among the 287 students entering the law school this fall," according to the Gainesville Sun.

Sabine Justilien, the student body vice president, plans to address at the meeting the ignorance toward different races or minorities, as well as the administration's response to any problems.

"I understand that some people may not know what it (blackface) is," Justilien said, "but you have to take some responsibility."

The Gainesville Sun said the "national fraternity, chapter president and fraternity members who wore the costumes subsequently issued apologies."

"This is something we need to address in the larger scheme of things," Justilien said, referencing the argument that the two fraternity brothers did not know what they were doing was wrong and not OK as a Halloween costume.

"Our race is not a costume."

The photo surfaced last week on Instagram and was seen on multiple social media websites. The meeting tonight is a regular Senate meeting, but a town hall meeting will also be held in the Rion Ballroom on Thursday.

Contact WUFT News by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org