2nd Blackface Video Linked to UC Irvine Fraternity

"This is not something that usually happens," says Lambda Theta Delta chapter president

A second video showing at least one member of a UC Irvine fraternity wearing blackface surfaced online Friday following allegations from other students that the chapter has a history of racial insensitivity.

The Lambda Theta Delta rush video, created in 2012, was sent to NBC4 on Friday. In it, a student wearing a grey undershirt and red bandana is seen in blackface -- a form of makeup used to portray African-American stereotypes in minstrel shows.

Chapter president Darius Obana said Friday that the clip was originally recorded at a 2010 Halloween party and edited into the recruitment video.

"The costume was not fraternity approved. He came dressed the way he did," Obana said.

"This is not something that usually happens. There have been no more instances of blackfaces," Obana said. "It's the equivalent to a female powdering her face to go as Snow White."

Earlier this week, the fraternity issued an apology for another video its members created that included a frat brother wearing blackface while singing along to Justin Timberlake's "Suit and Tie."

"The use of black face in the video is incredibly offensive as well as insensitive. This behavior is simply unacceptable and the individuals responsible for the video have already been reprimanded within the organization prior to the public outcry to which this formal apology is responding," wrote Lambda Theta Delta on Wednesday.

The 2012 video follows allegations from other students that the frat has a history of inappropriate videos.

"Lambda Theta Delta fraternity has on multiple occasions used blackface in their videos. You just came back from suspension -- you know why. We won't bring it up. Your fraternity does not deserve to be a part of this campus. …Your insufficient apology is not enough and it will never be enough. We see everything and we're not letting anything else slide," one student said during a protest at Thursday's meeting of the UC Irvine Greek Council.

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The school's vice chancellor directed its Student Affairs department to open an investigation into the incident.

Lambda Theta Delta describes itself as "UC Irvine's first and largest Asian American interest fraternity." It was founded in 1983.

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