Lambda Upsilon Lambda (LUL) hosted, “How Brown Can You Be?” Tuesday night in Kessel’s Gottesman Room. The event’s purpose was to discuss inequalities that have been built into our social system through a variety of exercises that were based off of color.

The event started off by giving Caucasian people regular entry, whereas members patted down and searched those of color. While Caucasians sat in the front of the room, those of color were told to stand in the back. Many students were insulted and remarked that it was unfair and only happening because they were not Caucasian.

“We pushed the boundaries on what is acceptable and what isn’t. [We focused on] how people react, about what racism truly is, how we are all affected by it, and how we all participate in it,” junior Justin Thomas said.

More than 60 people attended the event. The fraternity discussed what the group can do as a community to help teach people about racial bias in education and in everyday life.

One of the more prominent activities, that showed students racism is only realized when targeted towards themselves, was the question challenge. Students were asked if they would buy a cupcake from someone for a cheaper price if the same cupcake was being sold to someone of a different race for a more expensive price. The majority of students answered yes. When they were asked if they would buy it for the more expensive price, they said no and that it was racism.

The moral of many activities that LUL held was that most people did not realize others were mistreated or decided to speak up against racism that was present unless it was targeted towards them. The event highlighted a significant issue in today’s society that must be addressed in order for social injustices to be abolished. It encouraged people to work as a community to put an end to discrimination of many sorts that has been apparent in society for years.

“AXP brothers did a great job of showing that it doesn’t matter your skin color, but rather who you are as a person which is what Julian Alston said, ‘I’m friends with anyone who I can relate to.’ In the end, the message was that we can relate to people if you put yourself out there,” Thomas said.

Though many fell into the trap of buying a cheaper cupcake because they were receiving the “advantages,” others had different responses. A member from SLU responded that she would buy the cheaper cupcake for the other person. The audience, content with the answer, applauded her.