USouthCarolina: Greek Web site raises racial concerns

[kdonline]

http://www.dailygamecock.com/media/p...-1047752.shtml



Greek Web site raises racial concerns
Some upset over 'racist' comments; no disciplinary action planned

By Jess Davis
Staff Writer

Published: Monday, November 7, 2005


What some are calling "racist and obscene" comments from several of USC's fraternity and sorority members on a Web site message board have come under fire from the Office of Student Life and several Greek organizations.

The Web site, fratty.net, gained popularity nationwide for its sarcastic take on Greek life. Categories include "Dressing Frat," "Fratting Like A True Lady," even a "Frat Dictionary." A message board was added to the Web site during summer 2005.

Much of the message board content in question revolves around the Omega Psi Phi fraternity building a house in USC's Greek Village. Some white fraternity and sorority members posted antagonistic messages about the black fraternity moving in to the village.

"I propose throwing a cotton picking party for them when they move in. A thousand pounds of cotton in the front yard. Sure Jesse Jackson will be here in a heart beat, but it will be funny as hell watching them pick it up," an anonymous poster said under the screen name gamecock527.

Jerry Brewer, director of Student Life, was alerted to the message boards by several concerned students. He called a meeting with presidents of each Greek chapter and their advisers last Monday to discuss the message board. At the meeting, Brewer discussed how the Greek leaders could respond to the postings.

"I told the group these were fellow students posting this information and the leadership of the Greek community should let the individuals know this type of behavior is unacceptable," Brewer said.

Since concerns were raised about the postings, several of the fratty.net message board members have de-activated their accounts.

Brewer said that USC has requested the identity of the message board participants from the domain holder, and that he "would like to have a conversation with the individuals who posted this information to express my thoughts and to understand their reasons for posting the information."

Though the message board membership is open to anyone, Brewer said in a prepared statement that "most of the participants (whose comments are in question) do appear to be knowledgeable about the Carolina Greek system, which leads me to believe they are part of our community."

Not all of the messages on the boards were negative towards the Omega Psi Phis; several students spoke out against the racist comments.

"The crude things said on this board are disturbing in this day and age. I guess the anonymity offers the protection to say whatever no matter how outrageous or false. I would hope that the members of the black greek orgs know that not all white greeks feel this way and that there are plenty of people who are very happy for the Omegas," one poster under the screen name eichen said.

Another poster apologized for his comments on the message board and said that he was only joking.

USC is taking no disciplinary action. However, Brewer said the university has "lost a degree of respect for the members of the Greek system due to their comments on this message board."

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[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Well, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened....

[AChiOhSnap]

That's absolutely disgusting.

Congrats to the greeks that spoke out in support of the Omega Psi Phis. It's such a shame that their voices are overshadowed by the ignorant ones.

[Tom Earp]

NO ONE can Moralize peoples thinking no matter how twisted it might be.

What a shame especially in a Few Days of a Very Nice Ladys Passing.

Omega Psi Phi are Animals on Grambling Campus or at least that is What My Partners Brothers looked like on Gramblings OPPhi Web Site Showed!

There always be people of small minds no matter where You go.

[FSUZeta]

most websites allow anyone to go on and participate in discussions and post statements. no background checks or proof is required-people can invent any persona they choose. i am not saying that the beligerant posters are or are not members of the greek organizations at usc. for all we know, it could be the same person posting under many different names.

i hope that the majority of the greeks will welcome the omegas into the neighborhood.

[Jill1228]

That website is a f*cking train wreck anyway! Gives racist and bigoted cowards a place to hide out

[jitterbug13]

As a graduate of USC, I am VERY UPSET about this. Those greeks who posted those comments (and they can figure out who they are) should be punished to the fullest extent possible.

And it is true that not all greeks at USC are that way. When I was there, I had friends in KD, Tri-Delta, DG, KA as well as those who are Alphas, Kappas, Zetas, etc. The greeks still were kind of separated by race, but were pretty cordial for the most part.

Why are they upset about the Omegas (or bruhs) moving in Greek Village? The Alphas have been at McBride (old frat housing) for years! The president of USC asked the Omegas personally to build a house at Greek Village and they accepted. This is a big accomplishment for them and I'm proud of them and many people of all races are too (they have come a long way in the four years since I've been gone).

Which make me wonder...are those same greeks upset that an African-American (and Kappa) runs Student Government? Wonder how they feel about the football, basketball and track teams, which are mostly black?

ETA: added last sentence

[starang21]

this doesn't surprise me.

[KillarneyRose]

Oh for goodness sake

I could post that I was Miss America 1990, or the National Doughnut Eating Champion or a Kappa Delta from Ole' Miss and it wouldn't actually make me any of them. How do people know it's really USC students who are making these rude comments?

Probably just some idiots who want to make trouble.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
Oh for goodness sake

I could post that I was Miss America 1990, or the National Doughnut Eating Champion or a Kappa Delta from Ole' Miss and it wouldn't actually make me any of them. How do people know it's really USC students who are making these rude comments?

Probably just some idiots who want to make trouble.

You're NOT Miss America 1990?

[starang21]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
Probably just some idiots who want to make trouble.

who also attend USC.

Unfortunately the fine folx at Fratty don't give a shit:

No one from the University of South Carolina has requested any information about user names or IP addresses.

Also, there is no way that we are going to give them that information, post what you want, say whats on your mind, enjoy the right to free speech that was afforded to us by the Constitution.

I hate this free speech bullshit.

ProBoards is a free site, isn't it?

[KatieKate1244]

Originally posted by OTW


ProBoards is a free site, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

I'm wondering how fratty.net is getting around the Proboards TOS, which states:
User's web site may not contain content promoting the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, nudity, or any other form of adult content, profanity, hate, "spam," fraud, racism, mlm, pyramid schemes, or promote any illegal activity.

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by starang21
who also attend USC.

Some could be, some could attend whatever school is USC's big rival (Clemson is it??). Or they could just be jerks from other places who want to stir up, um, poop.


Honeychile:
Sweetie, you KNOW I was only 11 in 1990!

[honeychile]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose


Honeychile:
Sweetie, you KNOW I was only 11 in 1990!

I was just pulling your chain! After all, if I remember properly, we did go to the same daycare, only a couple years apart!