|
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.
|