discrimination
 

i have a friend and without giving too much information he has been rejected by several fraternities because he has learning and psychiatric disabilities. they were aware of this because the school is small and because a friend told everyone about this. so my question what can be done? what should be done?

I'm sorry to hear about your friend's unsuccessful recruitment. However, fraternities and sororities, as private organizations, can choose new members based on any criteria they wish. Also, as membership selection is private, there is no way to challenge it.

I understand that they are private but I guess my question was more regarding their operations since they go through multiple universities, they operate in multiple states so i guess what i am wondering is can they do that?

Being a private organization has nothing to do with operating in multiple states.

You have no idea why your friend wasn't given a bid. Maybe his disability has zero to do with it and he's just a douche.

when i am talking about operating in multiple states is that federal rules prohibit discrimination regardless if it is public or private organization.

well i wouldn't know but they written it in a letter and signed it. so my question what to do with it?

why would you do anything with it? It's not your problem, it's your friend's problem.

I don't believe that any such law applies to membership selection in private social organizations.Anyway, why would your friend want to join a group that clearly didn't want him?

As a private organization, we are able to have certain criteria for membership. Sadly, I am not up to date on the exact law/bylaws/whatever it is that allows us to have our criteria, but if we were unprotected, we would be sued all over the place by being single sex organizations. It is most likely the same reason why I can't be a freemason.

ETA: GC lawyers/people who know more than me, is this Freedom of Association, Freedom of Assembly, or something similar?

First: Well I wouldn't know, but they wrote it in a letter and signed it. My question is: what to do about the situation which I deem discriminatory?

I fixed it for you. As has already been replied, it is not discriminatory. Organizations have membership criteria that they follow. Secondly, I have never heard of an organization that sends letters explaining their reasons for not giving a bid. I'm not saying you are lying, I'm just saying "Who the Hell does that?!?!?" Anyone heard of this before?

As for what to do: Well, the situation sucks. Rejection really does suck and it's normal to be upset up to a point. However, at your small school does your friend really want to be known for suing an organization who decided against your friend joining? Perhaps if your friend really does have problems, he should see a counselor and focus on his treatment and schoolwork instead of going after this fraternity.

My friend has been there a lot for me and for many people, he doesn't have a lot of friends because no one really accepts him as a result of the disability.

I get that it is a private organization but by that logic seems that they can discriminate on anything? In other words can fraternities say that do not want any african americans in their group?

Why they rejected him? I cannot tell you why.

Yes. And they did for many, many years.

and for some groups, until quite recently as well

until? that gives the sense they do not any longer?

Good grief.

Your question has been answered. We don't know why "your friend" was rejected. There's nothing you can do.

Neither you nor your "friend" know the reason(s) he did not receive a bid. That he did not receive a bid from multiple fraternities indicates there was a consistent uncertainty about his fitness as a member, for whatever reason.

No one can force a private organization to admit any member nor can they force a private organization to reveal their selection process or reasons for declining someone's membership. If this is bothering your "friend" so much, it's probably time for a visit to student health to discuss his feelings. No amount of questioning strangers on the internet, appealing to the fraternities involved or threats of legal action are going to change his non-member status.

Right no one knows the reasons, except for the letter written by one of the fraternities in an attempt to be cruel?

My question bore on the level of what to do.

There is some level of personal and emotional vestment coming in these responses. is there some personal fear of anyone with a learning disability being admitted in your fraternity or sorority?

As are in the questions...

I call BS on this thread. I don't buy that a person wouldn't understand why a person with educational and psychological problems wouldn't get chosen to join a college fraternity at the undergraduate level.

If you want to help your buddy, help him find the resources he needs to advance his socialization skills. A fraternity isn't the avenue for that, it's the destination.

I don't think its BS but I do think the OP is the "friend" who wasn't given a bid (hence why the OP can't grasp what people here are telling him).

If we told you that disabilities were scary, gross things and we have never let anyone who has disabilities into our Greek systems, and we never ever EVER will, would that satisfy you? It really seems like that's what you're fishing for.

Everyone has already answered your questions adequately and, I think, rather politely considering your attitude. You're trying to pick fights. We had nothing to do with you/your friend being rejected. Your beef is not with us. Sorry if you don't like the answers provided.

Which is it - your friend has "been there a lot for me and for many people", which would suggest he has "many" friends, or "he doesn't have a lot of friends" ?

If he in fact has social issues with other people then there is your answer; he may not have been given a bid because of social awkwardness or lack of social skills. Maybe. WE DON'T KNOW.

Just a thought, you stated he had learning disabilities that was the stated reason for his rejection. If he is taking remedial classes or classes that do not lead to a degree as a result of his disability, THAT could preclude his membership. The vast majority of GLOs require that you be registered in a "degree seeking course of study."

Not to mention - the ADA means colleges will accommodate learning disabilities to the best of their ability, so I'm not sure how learning disabilities would factor into a bid decision unless his g.p.a. is not adequate or, as Titchou pointed out, he is not in a course of study leading to a degree.

This. If you don't have good social skills, you probably won't receive bids from social fraternities.

I think the OP is the "friend." 99.9% of the "friends" on GC are really the OPs.

No one here believes a fraternity would send a letter like this. It isn't done unless you have some kind of local doing their own thing there. The only letter I can see someone sending you is a cease and desist if you're being even 10% as annoying, repetitive and obtuse as you are being here. It certainly isn't rush season and hasn't been for a while, so this shows me you've been pursuing this for quite some time. Not healthy or productive for you, and yeah, I don't think there's any friend involved either.

What to do? See a mental health professional stat. Obsessing about this is not healthy.

It is regarding a friend and what I found extremely odd is how fraternities and sororities are above the law. I would like to know the reasoning as to why that is.

if the answers weren't simple denial it was an acceptance that this is a normal behavior and that nothing can be done. for some reason these groups are above the law?

Why is it one or the other? yes he has helped a lot of people, done a lot, yet they in turn bully him after he helped him.

I have written several times and not sure why I continue to have to. But the fraternity written an actual letter not only being derogatory but their actions after he tried to join which included trying to get others to bully him.

No receives extended time, note taker and use of notes on tests.

I have to again state this, the fraternity wrote a letter and stapled it to his door in the dorms. It read "we reject you, we do not want any motherf***ing retards in our frat. dont dare showing your face. you do we will kick the s*** out of you go f****ing die. go sit in your special ed classes"

are you sure it has nothing to do with the disability?

people are never bully others? fraternities never bully?

I actually contacted someone within my law school about this, another student, about to graduate. they wrote:

Dude. Shut up.

ETA: LOL @ this law student saying "if they written a letter" -- GFTOH

Yeah...the OP is definitely the "friend."

i personally dislike any discrimination in any form, when i see it happen i dislike it.

this was done by the local chapter, i do not even think the national organization is aware of what happened. this letter was just stapled to the dorm's door and was handwritten.

LOL

Please shut the fuck up. This is ridiculous and you look like an idiot.

I shall humor the OP who was rejected by these fraternities.

If there was something on your dorm room door, that is not an official letter of rejection. That was people being mean. If such a mean letter on your dorm room door does exist, forward it to Greek Life/the national body of the fraternity for further investigation. That does not mean you will then be accepted by the fraternity but it means that the fraternity will be investigated and possibly punished.

Good luck. :D Go away.

If you're this much of a pain in the butt online, I can only imagine what you're like in real life.

Sorry you were rejected. Why is it that you want to join a group that so obviously doesn't like you?

Please cite tha law you think they are claiming to be above.

As for the quote from your (still-has-much-to-learn) "law student," funny how he or she misuses the word "written" in place of "wrote" (as in, they/the fraternity written a letter") in exactly the same way that you have throughout your posts.

The OP is the rejected friend and the law student friend.

How creepy and stalkerish can you get?

So how do you know that it wasn't a different Fraternity trying to get the one you Rushed in trouble? You don't. So give it a rest. Your "lawyer friend" gave you the answer you wanted so move along. Shoo, shoo!

What seriously? How stupid is this forum? ada and brown v. board would be some of the laws that are against discrimination? who doesn't know that there are laws against discrimination?

I wasn't aware that the forum itself was capable of thought.

That's what I get for thinking.

you act as if you know something personal yet i see no presented evidence.

perhaps the belligerent answers are because the individuals themselves have a personal hatred of minorities, women or anyone with any disabilities and any question as to whether their own discriminatory actions are wrong responds with completely ignorant answers of "any organization and business can discriminate against anyone"

because they bullied the person? their behavior? because they admitted it?

i am just amused by how many people here are supportive of discrimination of all kinds.

How stupid are you? First of all, you were typing to an attorney. Second of all, you are the one who claims exclusion on the basis of discrimination.

If you are going to be all dumb and psycho over your rejection, at least use this as an opportunity to learn more about Greekdom. If you acted then as you are acting now, I can see how your rejection was well-founded.