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I've tried to delete this thread b/c of some requests from Alpha Gams, but keep getting the "You do not have permission to access the page that you were trying to. Are you trying to edit someone else's post or trying to access administrative features? Check that you are allowed to perform this action in the Forum Rules" notice. Anyway, ignore this thread please.

ah
 

could someone post the article or a link?

This "story" is about 2 years old. I think I saw it in Time magazine in NOVEMBER 2000. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

What Nina said! ;)

I believe there is a thread already started on here about that story. :)

Charges were found to be untrue. End of story.

Go on to something new and positive about Greek life!

Juat because something isn't positive doesn't mean we shouldn't post or discuss, sometimes more can be learned from negative articles even if untrue.

If you look at the risk management section you will see a lot of negative articles . . and some are not true in the way they were written.

just to clarify
 

This is the same old story, but it IS in the new issue of Cosmogirl. Nice timing right before rush. :rolleyes:

I think the reason that many of us have a problem with this thread is because (1) the charges were untrue, (2) the topic is 2 years old, and (3) it specifically targets AGD. There have been general topics on racism in greek organizations, and I'm sure they are beneficial and interesting conversations. I personally would prefer (and I'm sure my sisters would agree) that the discussion occur in a topic that is not titled "AGD racism article in CosmoGirl."

Agreed. The chapter is learning from the mistakes it has allegedly made and have and still are paying for it. How about we let the chapter move on and grow as people, instead of reminding them over and over about an incident that they themselves will probably never forget.

I think That Sandy and Tonya said it all in a nutshell!

Both from being different ethnic Backgrounds but Sisters Of AGD!

So does that tell anyone anything!

I have conversed with Both Ladys Of AGD and They are the GREATEST!

My 10 $ worth cause they are Worth it!

I agree. Even if my own sorority was the subject, I would still say we shouldn't ingore it just because we think it's unpleasant. The timing could have been a little better, though...and what's it doing in CosmoGirl anyway? My 11-year-old sister reads that, and I can't imagine she'd be very interested in reading about sororities.

Could someone email me or PM exactly what this whole racism issue with AGD in cosmo magazine is? I have come across it a couple of times on GC and I have like no idea about the article or what is going on. Really I just want to know what is up is anyone could fill me in.

Could someone please fill me in? I'm a lil old to be reading Cosmogirl (I read the real deal!) I'm just curious as to what's going on.. even if the issue was years past, maybe other chapters can benefit from it

Me, too, please!

Their requests show that we should revisit some of these issues from time to time lol.

Their requests show that they need to do internet searches cause info about this topic is available.

Re: just to clarify
 

33girl,
Which issue of Cosmo Girl did you see this article in? I just checked the one on the stands now with Kelly Osborne and didn't see anything in there.

Susan,

It's not the Kelly O one, it is the newest issue - September 2002 (my newsstand gets magazines really early). I think there is some blond actress on the cover - I know that narrows it way down, LOL.

That helps! I live in the boonies so it'll probably be a while before the local grocery gets it!

All I ask...
 

As an Alpha Gam, all I ask is that you investigate the facts in the story. Yes, it has been two years ago and I hate that this chapter is being punished over and over again for something that was alledged and where it was never proven true.

Yes, we do make mistakes but just as I always investigate the truth in stories - I ask that you do too!

I agree!!!!

It makes me wonder why the AGD was approached (I assume she didn't approach Cosmo) after a year or more (I assume) and why she agreed to do the article. She is now at another college in another state.

I sincerely hope (but unfortunately unlikely) that UGA PNMs don't read it or even if they do, I hope that they see the wonderful Alpha Gamma Deltas at UGA for what they have accomplished.

If someone keeps bumping this thread up as a way to incite negative comments toward any group, then I'd say they aren't reflecting postively on their own group.

I would like to also state to be careful because we do I have 2 girls from that chapter on this board :)

actually, Beyonce is on the front cover (and she's definitely not some blond actress!) ;)

it doesn't state the article on the front cover. but it's there.

can't AGD sue that girl for exposing what happened during a private membership selection process? i know we were NEVER allowed to even speak of what happened at those meetings, let alone to the press.

and that girl DEFINITELY has major issues by dropping out of school instead of dropping out of her sorority

thanks cash78mere, I might have just gotten confused because Beyonce is on approximately 2.5 million magazine covers this and last month. :p

There's an article about that on Time.com as well. And about the girl dropping out of that university.. maybe she just wasn't happy there? Maybe something happened in her family which made her want to go home? I know a couple of people that have decided to finish their education at a later date because of family emergencies like parents being severely ill.. etc. I don't know this girl who spoke to Cosmogirl (and the rest of the press for that matter) but I don't think we should really judge her because we don't really know her whole story about why she decided to leave the sorority and her university.

Yes! As an ex pre-jounalist "major", I remember that an invasion of privacy to the press can spell a big time law suit for libel!!!

i'm not judging her-

she said she dropped out BECAUSE of the whole sorority thing. she apparently couldn't get her housing money back (she was living in the house) unless she dropped out altogether. so she dropped out.

I had tried to avoid this thread for quite a while because it was very upsetting to me, but at this point, I feel that I must add my two cents to the conversation.

I read the article yesterday, and I was extremely upset by it. It was completely one-sided, and did not present any of the facts regarding the eventual outcome. I wrote a letter to the editor this morning, and it sums up how I feel about this whole situation. I'm going to share it now with each of you.

"To the Editor:
As a proud member of Alpha Gamma Delta International Fraternity, I am writing to express my anger at your publishing of the story, "I Stood Up To My Racist Sorority" in the September 2002 issue of "CosmoGirl."

This article is an example of some of the most irresponsible and inflammatory journalism I have seen in years. If your writer had done a little more fact-checking, she would have realized better than to take Ali Davis' story at face value.

Prior to recruitment in September 2000, Ms. Davis made repeated attempts to get out of her housing contract with Alpha Gamma Delta. The Executive Council would not release her from her housing contract. In what looks suspiciously like retaliation for the refusal to release her from the contract, Ms. Davis went to the Assistant Dean with charges of racial discrimination in Alpha Gamma Delta's selection process.

The chapter was given an interim suspension pending the university's investigation. Alpha Gamma Delta's International Headquarters also conducted an independent investigation. It was widely noted that the chapter members were helpful and forthcoming in the investigations. The results? Neither investigation found ANY evidence of discrimination. Let me repeat myself clearly: NONE of the charges were ever proven to be true. All anyone found was a disgruntled member looking to get out of her housing contract.

At the end of the investigation, the chapter's suspension was lifted. In fact, the chapter agreed to take a leadership position on racial sensitivity and racial diversity issues in order to prevent such an unfortunate situation from ever occurring again.

For "CosmoGirl" to dredge up a two-year old situation--which has long been resolved--and not get the facts straight, is absolutely unforgivable. The damage that your sloppy reporting could cause the chapter and Fraternity's reputation is huge. Where are your scruples? Where is your journalistic integrity and sense of fair play?

For your further information, Alpha Gamma Delta has a long and proud history of inclusiveness. Alpha Gam was the first fraternity to ever initiate a non-caucasian member in 1953. My sisters are of all racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

All Alpha Gamma Deltas around the world hold the tenets of our Purpose dearly. One statement in the Purpose is: "To hold Truth inviolable, Sincerity essential, Kindness invaluable." Racism and discrimination are in direct conflict with that statement. They have no place in our Fraternity.

I take it VERY personally when you call Alpha Gamma Delta "my racist sorority." By logical extension, you are personally calling me and my sisters racist. I can assure you that if I or any of my sisters honestly felt that our Fraternity was racist, we would return our Badges without a second thought.

This so-called article and its allegations are offensive. They are outrageous. Most importantly, they are NOT true. At the very least, you owe Alpha Gamma Delta an enormous apology, and a retraction.

I was an avid reader of many Hearst publications. I regret to inform you that I will no longer be purchasing or reading any of your magazines. I will also encourage every sister that I know to boycott all Hearst publications.

Yours Truly,
etc, etc."

I apologize to all of you for the length of this message, but it is obviously a very sensitive subject for all Alpha Gams. It hurts me beyond all belief to know that people may read this article and think that I, as an AGD, am racist. It goes against how I was raised, what I believe, and what I stand for as an Alpha Gamma Delta.

I also join my sisters in asking that all of you please look at all sides of the story and not jump to conclusions. I believe that if you do some research, you will find that the facts will support Alpha Gam.

If you have any questions or would like to say something in response to me personally, please pm me. This is the first and last time I am going to publicly comment on this article.

greeklawgirl,

All I can say is WOW, you kick some major a$$!

While I am sure we will never know the whole story behind the events that transpired, we can find contentment in knowing that AGD at UGA will probably not suffer any long term effects. For some reason, houses at UGA never have problems with recruitment. Not to mention, they have one of the most beautiful houses on Milledge Ave. If you haven't checked it out, you should. :)

I personally do not believe that if someone was just making things up to get out of a housing contract, they would spend all this time and effort talking to reporters. I would only talk to reporters about a cause I believed passionately in...

I don't think anyone, except the girls involved in the chapter at the time, can ever fully understand this situation or purport to know what happened. So, while members of Alpha Gamma Delta are infuriated by these allegations popping back up, and rightly so, I don't think it is fair to attack Ms. Davis based solely on information that has come down through the grapevine...

Re: All I ask...
 

I'm not going to say the girl was right for talking to the press, but is it a possibility that she did feel some racial issues with the sorority and just waited to speak on them until she had the issues with housing? I am a minority myself, but I don't complain about every little racial issue that I am confronted with everyday BUT if you push me, I will let you have it....... I don't think that minorities need to be reminded or in your words "punished over and over again" for the color of their skin.

YEAAAA MARIA!
 

I also sent a letter to Cosmo.

Maria's letter did note the facts even if they may have "come down the grapevine", although I am looking at the 2001 Atlanta Journal article that had the same facts.

We may never know the true reason Ms. Davis decided to "come forth", what matters is the actions she took.

Unfortunately, I see this topic being reposted next year at Recruitment and the next year....

Lynn
Proud to be an Alpha Gamma Delta

I completely agree with sororitygirl2. In my personal experience, I have had *major* *major* (did I stress *major*?) moral differences with a local I used to belong to. A lot of the girls felt so strongly against what was going on within that local that we felt it was in our best interests to not be associated with that. Everything they did, did not reflect the way I believed and I honestely felt their "ideals" were no longer the same as mine.

You can't just bad-mouth someone because they don't want to be part of something that they feel is no longer the same. If the rest of the group still thinks everything is going ok, great! They'll be around to keep doing whatever they were doing.. but you can't force someone to stay part of it if they don't feel comfortable.

I am glad that the allegations were "found to be false" but what I don't understand is how the officials came to that conclusion? I'm not saying they aren't false.. I'm just wondering what their "investigation" entailed? It's not like the sisters would say "yes i'm racist" right? :confused: I don't want anyone to be mad by that comment I'm just wondering because every article out there about it basically just said the allegations were found to be false.

On a legal note, I don't really think AGD should sue that girl (I read about that in a random post on this thread) I think it would do more harm than good and make the headlines yet again.