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Old 03-26-2004, 11:35 PM
decadence decadence is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,474
Bullies?

The actions of the Black Student Alliance do give cause for concern.
Quote:
"About 200 people attended a rally organized by the Black Student Alliance to demand that the university take further action against the predominantly white Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. At the emotional rally, students raised their fists in the air chanting "Black Power," and presented a list of 12 demands.
"The entire organization needs to be kicked off this campus," said Dawn Davison, 27, who led the rally.
Much about that paragraph is striking. While the actions of the fraternity should not to put it mildly be commended, (duh) the holding of a rally to engender a hostile campus attitude to the group, is... unfortunate.
Moreoever, the campus student organization which held the party being removed is NOT giving a mature response but a kneejerk one, plus there are their fliers. I see little to suggest black student responses are not being listened to which could warrant last resort fliers etc. Firstly, I am not confident that the entire fraternity chapter is a hotbed of extreme racial hatred existing to oppress and mock the black student community at GSU as seems to be suggested. The chapter did host the party at which the acts were committed, should it be wiped off the face of the campus or more specifically would that be appropriate cause and effect and would it help?
While it is correct that two members acted with stupidity and racial sensitivity; greater education and coalition between campus groups and students would surely be the way to go. Dawn Davison seems to wish to perpetuate a "them and us" attitude.
Quote:
After members of Phi Beta Sigma, a historically black fraternity that was at the party, objected to the blackface, the two members took it off, the incident report said. A few days after the party, members of both fraternities met with school officials and Pi Kappa Alpha apologized for the incident, said Dan Forrester, the fraternity's president. The fraternity also suspended the two members.
The fraternity seems to have taken clear non-tokenistic steps against the members and apologized (nobody is saying there is not some way to go). I note that HBGLO groups were invited too.
Quote:
Among the demands: suspension of Pi Kappa Alpha for a minimum of three years, the addition of a mandatory African-American history course for all students, and hiring of more minority faculty in tenure track positions. Shakeema Bell, a member of the Black Student Alliance, said the university has until 4 p.m. Wednesday to respond to the list of demands. ...bake sale grew tense when students from the Black Student Alliance gathered in front of the College Republicans' table, denouncing the group and the fund-raiser with a bullhorn.
I take issue with the militant nature of this. The BSA seems to want to bulldoze in with a list of demands to make major changes.
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