So I get on FB and see a message that Beta Tau chapter was placed on indefinite suspension by IHQ earlier today. I didn't hear about this until, like right now. From reading that email it seems to me that whoever wrote it was striving for "fratire", especially with the butt-chugging references and the over all ridiculousness of it. Personally, I don't find it offensive and this wouldn't have gone anywhere while I was an undergrad but it just drives home the fact that chapters need to remember that social media sees all...

And that when social media sees all, the audience becomes far bigger than the intended audience, so you may have gone well beyond the group that will get an intended joke.

I'm not at all unfamiliar with fratire, but it completely went over my head in this instance if that's what was intended. That well may because I saw the pictures first, and I did find them offensive.* That probably colored how I read the email.



* Others' mileage on whether the pictures in and of themselves are offensive may vary, of course. I'm that guy who every four years wishes the US Olympic Committee would instruct athletes that is not appropriate to drape the flag around their shoulders for a vistory lap.

Hazing, alcohol abuse, possible butt chugging, etc.

That's kind of where I'm headed. This just hits too many ripped from the headlines notes of idiocy to be real.

My guess is that the chapter will be fine, but will probably be advised to adopt a more stringent social media policy.

As for the use of the American flag, well...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gyd5h_cFl-...in-dot-com.jpg

^^^ LOL, not helping the case for me, Kevin.

What can I say -- I'm the Eagle Scout son of a WWII vet/Scoutmaster. This offends me as well:

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/fi...with-flags.jpg

Got it. I didn't read it as though those things were actually happening, but yes, you are right.

Don't get me started on violations of the flag code . . . drives me crazy. The Texas flag, alas, is the victim of many crimes against its dignity.

Yup, Nationals suspended them: http://www.annarbor.com/news/fratern...leaked-online/

From IHQ-

I'm with you...this isn't as horrific as many make it out to be. It's meant to be tongue in cheek and satire. The pictures of the guys in the flags doesn't bother me...because we see shit like this all the time, and nobody cares!

http://jewelryfromthestars.com/blog/...Flag-Dress.jpg

http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncsta...n-flag-big.gif

But maybe the education program can include the Flag Code: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm

For me and MC - courtesy of Emily Dickinson
 

I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?
Then there's a pair of us!
Don't tell! they'd advertise – you know!

How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell one's name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!

Amen to that.

Thanks, Belle, and well done with the Belle of Amherst!

Yes, we see it all the time. But there are actually lots of people who care.

To be clear, there is a difference between clothing that includes red and white stripes and white stars on blue in such a way as to suggest or recall the American flag:

http://captain-america.us/images/cap.gif

http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squi...59749134a_.jpg

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/asse...x201-20551.jpg

and actually using a flag as clothing or costume or wrapping oneself in a flag. The former isn't prohibited under the Flag Code; the latter is.

Whether it's tasteful can, of course, be whole 'nother matter.