[lifesaver]

Originally posted by UNFSigmaChi
What i meant by that is sigma chi has very strong christian backgrounds...hince the white cross.

Most all GLO's have a basis in judeo - chrisian heretage. I dont think any of us were founded on cheeseburgers and fries.

And christianity doesn't except homosexuality. This is why homosexuality should not belong in Sigma Chi.

I am going to respect your opinion here and not really get into this. I respectfully disagree with many denominations opinions. I dont feel this is the place for that debate

But accepting gays into Sigma Chi is taking that spirit too far from what the founders intended it to mean.

How many of us really know what our founders vision was anymore (times changing, etc...) Most of them didnt want minoritys or non-chrisitnas. Hell, my org was white only until 1956. My founders prolly wanted it that way too. Doent make it right. Remember, they were only 18 year olds. They were human, obviously. Much like the US constitution, I believe their principals (my orgs) are timeless, yet elastic and are mallieable to changing times. Thats why all of us still exist some 100/150 years after we were founded, because the ideals are timelss, yet adapt to the times. Most likely none of us would have been bid 100 years ago if you snatched us up and placed us in 1902. Times change.

And as far as affecting rush...here at UNF where the greek community represents 1% of the student population, it does hurt your rush to have an openly gay greek person in your Fraternity. Rushee's see this or hear about this and don't want to be apart of the now stereotyped "gay fraternity." Now at huge colleges where greek life is 30%+ then i could understand it not being that big of a problem during rush, but unfortunatly here it is.

This I understand as well. I also believe that rush is one of the most important things we do as orgs. Our future depend on it and I wouldnt want to see anything that can hurt that, or a rep. My campus is about 4% greek. We had a brother come out about 2 years ago. It didnt seem to hurt our rush. When he came out we were a 21 man chapter. Now we are near 70. He has since gone alum, and we dont have anymore openly gay brothers, but I dont see it as being a big problem if it were. I can gurandaymtee you that we had to defend that brother to toher greeks, but that what you do as a brother. You stand up for your brothers. Hell, to me, thats the essence of brotherhood. We've all defended brothers before, for drinking, womanizing, whathave you. Why would be afraid to defend a brothert because he's gay, when we already all do it for the other brothers. Remember, life isnt about doing whats easy. Its about doing whats right.

You gotta take a proactive stand. It wasnt that bad. Yeah we were the first, but we're still here. Think about the first integrationists, they were spit on and threatened. Tjis is nothing more than taking a stand. And look how far things have come since then. Not perfect, but hella better. Its about character. I believe an individual has much more character if he stands up for those who cant stand up for themselves and is willing to challenge the status quo. As for becoming a "gay house," its not a problem (for us). We use the same recruitment standards for everyone and our affirmative action policy for our chapter says that as long as our ratios accurately reflect the university's ratios, were ok. But we've never had to implement the policy, because so many people want to be a part of what we have at our campus, we have a good group of diverse guys. I wouldnt trade it for anything. I have learned so much from each and every one of them.

I respect what you have to say and your opinions, I also thank GC for the opportunity to debate things like this in a non-personal, adult manner. After all, its what our country was founded on.

I would encourage you to at least consider the possibility and how you'd handle it, because its gonna happen in Sigma Chi at UNF. And I mean an active will come out. Someday. Since they havent invented a "gay filter" for rush, and you cant always tell by how someone looks, you just might have a closeted brother in your midsts. What if it was one of your best friends? Would you still wish he had never become a brother. The reason I mention this is because our brother who came out...was engaged at the time. Cant always tell.....