I was involved with a situation similar to what is being discussed here, although on a MUCH LESS explicit level. My chapter creates a rush publication called Pikes Illustrated, and every cover picture since it's debut in 1985 had featured a photo of a bikini clad co-ed (usually a chapter Little Sister, Sweetheart or Dream Girl). However, a few years ago, we had a GREAT picture of a set of twins who were Chi O's. The picture was not explicit, degrading or otherwise distasteful -- it was simply the bikini-clad twins on the beach lying on their stomachs side by side. But the Greek Advisor at that time (who was female) objected to the picture and said it was unacceptable to use. We argued the point very heavily because she had not made any comments about the cover during our production period, only when we brough the final proof in for approval before printing and had spent hundreds of dollars on the photo shoot and four-color printing. Due to our arguement, she reported it to Chi O HQ and created a really big uproar for the girls. Finally, we reached a compromise and she allowed the photo to be used after we placed a "censored" bar across their cleavage area (we used the bar to put a headline across the cover about it being the tenth anniversary edition of the magazine).
After I met with a representative from Chi O HQ and the Greek Advisor and we discussed the matter, did the Chi O HQ ease off on the girls about the picture and agree that the photo was NOT contrary to the sorority's beliefs or imposed a negative image. No other girl before or after that one incident had ever had a problem with being our cover girl, and we had had Phi Mus, Tri-Delts, Alpha Gams, and KDs all on the cover at one time or another.
However, after that discussion, we changed our policy and now use photos with both a Brother and a girl in it, sometimes they are in swimwear, sometimes not.
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