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The University of Michigan branch of Delta Sigma Phi recently canceled its Sept. 1 "Welcome Week" party that had an Ancient Egyptian theme as a result of sharp criticism from the student body, Nisa Khan of The Michigan Daily reports.
The party asked students to "honor our Egyptian roots and join us on the night of Sept. 1 to celebrate our newly built pyramid. . . . Come to Delta Sig as a mummy, Cleopatra or King Tut."
Egyptian Student Association president Yasmeen Afifi wposts on Facebook:
"Not only are these stereotypes extremely offensive as a whole, it is more saddening to see students from the top public university in the United States engaging in these stereotypes. As an actual Egyptian, my roots are more than a costume or a lame party. My culture will not be appropriated for your entertainment...
"You can’t justify your culture appropriation and Cleopatra costumes because you think ancient Egypt was a mythical civilization of the past. Egyptians still exist, we aren’t mythical creatures that vanished in fairy dust," she wrote. "Egyptians still honor and celebrate ancient holidays till this day and we still embellish our homes and bodies with Pharaonic symbols...Just because modern Egyptians don’t wear “headdresses” and speak Hieroglyphics doesn’t mean you can appropriate and disrespect their legacy for your entertainment."
Delta Sigma explains on Facebook that the party came from the "connection between the values and themes of Ancient Egypt and the national organization of Delta Sigma Phi. . . . Upon hearing that our party was seen as appropriating Egyptian culture, the event was immediately cancelled."