Stupid Frat Joke stirs up Homophobia and Racism at the University of Chicago

U.S. Postal carrier Iran Becton was a victim of a racist and homophobic joke involving the Phi Delta Theta frat at the University of Chicago.

Here's the story:

“About a week after Memorial Day, I had an order to bring 79 of the boxes. I came to the address and explained to the frat member that I would have a lot more supplies. I went back to the truck for the boxes about six or seven times,” Becton said. 

“After the last trip, one of the frat guys came out and said it was a practical joke. Another guy said that I should read the name backwards and I’ll get the joke.” 

The items — all 79 of them — were addressed to “Reggin Toggaf.” Written backward, the first name is a racial slur. The last name is a slur for gay men.

No one is taking responsibility for this mess at all, and folks are getting pissed off.

Mack Julion, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 11, said he paid a visit to the frat house last Saturday and spoke with the group’s former president. 

“Their contention was it was a practical joke, but we don’t think it was funny, the letter carrier doesn’t think it was funny, and it doesn’t reflect well on the university,” Julion told me. 

Julion said the fraternity told him the “joke” was being played on them and was not meant to offend Becton. 

“But if it was a practical joke from one frat to another and not to the letter carrier, it is still not funny. Is this the way you tease each other?” Julion said he asked. “Is this standard protocol in terms of practical jokes? Is this the way they go back and forth, because it is not acceptable.” 

The postal supply boxes were shipped from Victory Packaging, a shipping company in Aurora. The representative that handles the U.S. Postal Service account was appalled when I told him about the bogus shipment. 

“We are going to take this real seriously,” he said, promising to investigate and get back to me.

And what is the University of Chicago doing about this? The frat should be suspended until the truth comes out. Oh, and Becton should sue the university.

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