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Ok, so as much as I respect Alexander's feelings and his decision, this article really, really bothers me...
I know that in most of the US, racism is still a huge problem, esp. in the South, and that fraternities are still considered to be "traditionally white" organizations. But being from Southern California and growing up in a hugely diverse area, this kind of thing really bugs me.
For those of you who don't know, the University of California is probably one of the most diverse state-wide university systems in the US (I would think Texas would be similar), and race is often a hot topic at all UC campuses, but especially the ones in the SoCal area. UCR is the fourth most diverse campus in the nation, and the most diverse of all the UC schools, and I am so proud of that.
Fall 2002 ethnicity figures (does not include those who declined not to state):
African American: 5.7%
Asian American: 42.2%
Chicano/Latino: 23%
Native American: 0.5%
White: 23%
Other: 1.6%
Yes, race issues still exist on my campus. The majority of students feel that Greek Life is a "traditionally white" concept, even though 19 out of the 33 social Greek-letter organizations (including NPC, IFC, NPHC, and other multi-cultural GLOs) consider themselves Ethnic/Cultural organizations BEFORE considering themselves to be a Fraternity/Sorority. And unofficial figures that have measured the percentage of ethnic diversity within NPC/IFC organizations have shown percentages that correspond almost exactly to the percentages throughout the entire school.
So, with all that off my mind, this article is still bothering me... Alexander expressed no interest in joining an NPHC organization, or a black fraternity in general throughout the article, so maybe he was actually looking to break the diversity lines by joining a "traditionally white" fraternity. What bothers me most is his mother's reaction to his acceptance of a bid to Phi Psi. If I was the mother of a minority student, and he was extended an invitation to break through the color barriers, there is in no way I would view it as just adding a "token" to an organization. I would be proud that a group of men are willing to take a shot at diversity within their organization, and decided to let my student take the first step.
I understand the reason why multi-cultural organizations tend to rarely have members from other ethnicities, but doesn't that promote a double standard here? I mean, if people are going to constantly accuse NPC and IFC organizations of being "traditionally white" and unwelcoming of non-white races, couldn't the same be said for NPHC which is "traditionally black," or for organizations like Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, Inc. and Lambda Phi Epsilon, both "traditionally Asian-American" organizations?
This double standard is still so out of whack... I give so much credit to organizations with a "traditionally ethnic" background that recruit and boast members of a different race... At UCR, there are a few cases such as this (specifically that the former President of Latinic Societas Unitas, a Latino organization that operates like a sorority, was 100% Chinese... ), and I give them credit for stepping over the race barriers.
I know that many of you will not agree with me because of cultural differences and I know a lot of you are in the South where a race divide still exists in most areas, but seriously... think about it. Isn't the point to expand in all ways possible, including through ethnic diversity of members? It's not fair to Alexander that his mother was, in my opinion, extremely biased and shallow. She should let her son do as he pleases, try new things, and experience life without her weighing him down. It's people that can't open up their minds like that who are making it just that much more difficult to have peace...
K... sorry to vent, but this riled me up... I'll get back to my homework now.
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