‘Taliban Princess’ float disrupts annual Homecoming parade

For Luther students, faculty and alumni the Homecoming parade is usually a fun occasion to celebrate the Luther community. However, the 2010 parade was marred by an unfortunate incident.

Midway through the parade, what was originally a SAC Homecoming-sanctioned float for the class of ‘65 was altered by its occupants to include a sign on the vehicle that read “Taliban Princess, class of ‘65,” while a male occupant dressed in a burkha waved from the backseat.

Witnesses recognized the man in the burkha as Chuck Stern Jr. (‘65).

All applications for Homecoming parade floats must pass through the SAC Homecoming office. This year, the only outside application for a float came from Jane (‘65) and John Dettloff (‘65) and Stern. Originally, they contacted the Alumni Relations office and were directed to contact SAC Homecoming. From there, they were approved for a float.

Neither the Dettloffs or Stern were available for comment.

At the start of the parade, the float consisted of a red convertible and a sign SAC had made for the event that simply read “Class of 1965.”

“There was a red convertible and two ladies,” Erin Gilbertson (‘11), SAC Homecoming co-chair said. “We met them and talked to them. They seemed really nice and excited to be in the parade. We thought it was weird that it was just two of them, so we asked them if there would be more people, and they said yes.”

No organizers of the parade had any more contact with the members of the float.

Soon after the start of the parade, the two women exited the vehicle, and two men took their place. The identities of the women have not been confirmed.

E-mail correspondence between Dettloff, Stern, and SAC Homecoming show that there was no mention of any of the modifications that were made to the original float.

“They misrepresented themselves as a legitimate float,” Kirk Johnson, associate director of alumni relations, said.

The administration feels that the occupants of the float were dishonest in their actions and communication.

“We were deceived,” Executive Director of Alumni Relations, Sherry Alcock, said.

Many parade goers were rightfully confused and offended by the float, which was not sponsored by Luther.

“It was in bad taste,” Johnson said.

Aaidha Majdhy (‘11), president of Muslim Student Association and Allies, shared similar feelings.

“It was totally unexpected,” Majdhy said, “It’s really unfortunate and I was disappointed, especially because Luther College is really working hard to spread interfaith awareness.”

The college has yet to decide on a course of action in response to the incident.

“We’re leaving it in the hands of the alumni office, and I think we’ll follow their lead on what actions they want to take.” Jerry Johnson, director of public information, said. “Until there is some communication between [the members of the float] and the alumni office, I don’t think the college will choose its course of action.”

SAC Homecoming has made efforts to contact those involved, so far without response. The committee is also working to prevent something similar from ever happening again.

“Because of this incident, we don’t think we’re going to allow any other alumni to participate in the parade, other than the 50 anniversary class,” Gilbertson said.

The float was an upsetting sight for many.

“The people who did this stunt acted in bad faith and misrepresented the float, changed it mid-parade and deceived the college with a misleading parade application,” Jerry Johnson said. “The class of 1965, except for a few people, had nothing to do with this, and I think we’re all embarrassed by it.”

Majdhy feels disheartened by the incident.

“Obviously it shows how much work we still have to do. It’s really disappointing. I was really, really shocked.”