censoring shirts?

[littleangel2017]

Hey girls,
I'm a member of kappa delta sorority at a local florida university and well our panhellenic is trying pass the ordinace that will censor our sororitiy shirts. the agreement goes something like this:

In an effort to protect the public image of the Panhellenic Council, the member chapters at XYZ hereby agree to adhere to a high standard of professionalism through selecting and producing tastful slogans and graphics on all event themed shirts and publicity. Examples of inappropriate content include, but are not limited to, use of foul language, derogatory vocabulary, or references to alcohol, drugs, or sex.

allegations of an infraction would be reported to the panhellenic council EVP who would follow up with the accused chapter with mediation. Please feel free to contact the EVP in advance for the official opinion of anything questionable.

anyhow i was wondering what you guys felt about that agreement? and weather or not do you guys think that the sterotypes of sorority girls could be taken away by simpleing changing shirts?

PLEASE answer this..thanks bunches my great kay-dee sisters.

love

silverlee

[KDAngel]

While I don't think I will change stereotypes, I definitely think it's a good thing. I mean, at least as far as Kappa Delta goes I'm sure our founders wouldn't want us wearing some of the shirts that I've seen out there with KD's name on it as well. In order to strive for that which is honorable, beautiful, and highest we must somtimes realize that while something may be "cute" or "funny" it may also be offensive and give one's organization a bad name. For example, the greek shirts I've seen based on the Absolute campaigns- that just totally reinforces what people think about greeks in general- crazy students who drink all the time.

Examples of inappropriate content include, but are not limited to, use of foul language, derogatory vocabulary, or references to alcohol, drugs, or sex.

Also, those examples shouldn't be on shirts anyway. Like I said, that totally reinforces the greek stereotype. I mean, why should anyone be cursing on a t-shirt for everyone to see? And sex? That's just tasteless...

AOT Ladies!!
<3 Liz

[littleangel2017]

wow, thanks for the response. And to let you know, i completely see your point of view and agree with it. I really just wanted to see what other people thought before we voted it in. We're all greek and therefore represent all greeks. Thanks bunches...

in KAY_DEE LOVE,

silverlee

[kdonline]

Oh boy... whatever happened to freedom of speech?

Anyway, I'm curious; what has been said on some of the sorority shirts?

I can't imagine that a sorority would select a risque theme or picture on their t-shirts...sounds like this should be targeted at the IFC & fraternities!

[amazinglagirl]

On one hand, I understand the knee-jerk reaction of "what happened to freedom of speech", but sometimes that freedom is not without a price. Embracing the freedom means also living with the consequences of negative reaaction that expression can create. And maybe that price is too high for Panhellenic to risk and recover from. (Like Rush Limbaugh yesterday with his ridiculous statement...the cost was that he was pretty much forced to resign. He is not JAILED for his opinion because he is free to say whatever he likes, but it doesn't mean other people have to like it, welcome it, or continue to pay him to be a part of their show. There is certainly a consequence for speaking out in a manner that offends others, so now he must deal with it.)

In this instance, it seems that panhellenic is simply trying to preserved the chapters from making "freedom of speech" t-shirt decisions that would cost them the price of further negative publicity, backlash on campus, or other undesirable consequences.

Also, think of it this way,...when you make a sorority or fraternity t-shirt, you are speaking for or at least representing ALL Kappa Deltas or ALL XYZs and, in some cases, all Greeks (whether they are 18–88)...and some may not want their sorority associated with the sex, alcohol, profanity that college students sometimes find humorous or clever.

So, this agreement seems to me to be more of an acknowledgement of that greater responsibility to the whole than an affront to the individual's or chapter's freedom of expression.

[kdGreen]

Perhaps your chapter should take the initiative to create an agreement that wouldn't abandom freedom of speech.

I mean, if a young man in high school (a minor) can wear a shirt that has a pic of Bush, bearing the words, "International Terrorist", then I don't see how Panhellenic can restrict what Greek orgs select as slogans.

I'd try to find a way to meet them in the middle, so to speak. I would agree to, say, make a conscientious effort to refrain from shedding a bad light on either the university or greek orgs in general. Because, if either of those look bad, then so does my org, and therefore me.

You could also route a copy to other greek orgs, asking if they would be more inclined to support your agreement than the original one.

Do you think Panhellenic at your school would ask an org to not wear certain shirts -- even if that org signed their proposed agreement? Or, do you think it's just a way to get greeks to understand what they're really doing when they wear distasteful shirts? My guess is it's the latter, in which case, your agreement meets that, but doesn't restrict freedom of speech. Everyone's happy.

just my two cents...

Teri
Delta Tau of Kappa Delta

[amazinglagirl]

Originally posted by kdGreen
I mean, if a young man in high school (a minor) can wear a shirt that has a pic of Bush, bearing the words, "International Terrorist", then I don't see how Panhellenic can restrict what Greek orgs select as slogans.

This is the simple difference between PUBLIC and Private institutions.

When you CHOOSE to affiliate yourseld with a private organization, such as panhellenic sororities or fraternities, you are agreeing to uphold standards and meet requirements of that private organization. And if panhellenic wants to create standards and restrictions for its members to meet, they are perfectly within their rights to do this, since you can always drop out of the organization if you don't agree with the restrictions in order to "preserve" your right to free speech.

They can say "those who belong to our organization will not use the following terms or slogans" and you can either choose to comply and belong...or you can choose to exercise your freedom of speech and go against the policy, which could result in negative consequences for your organization.

As an American citizen, you always have the right to freedom of speech, but you do NOT always have control over the consequences of exercising that right...like the consequence of being kicked out or suspended from a private organization.

This actually reminds me of when girls in our chapter get called to standards board and say, "I don't think the sorority should judge what I do! I'm free to do whatever I want." I mean, YES, you can do what you want...but you can't do what you want AND be a member of sorority at the same time (if you are doing something that damages our good name) without some kind of consequence.

They can (and in my opinion, SHOULD) have and enforce these standards.

[kdGreen]

Why, thank you for correcting me so promptly, amazinggirl. I wasn't aware that the high school student attended a PUBLIC institution.

So much for trying to share opinions here... someone gets snippy when an opinion different from her own is expressed.

[kddani]

Girls, chill. Please. Don't make Ivory and I actually have to moderate!

KdGreen, from what I read the reply wasn't being snippy, it was an educated argument. Your last post was actually pretty "snippy" in itself. Just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't make them "snippy"

I find it to be a really interesting topic, especially after having taken a few classes involving freedom of speech.

[kdonline]

Originally posted by kdGreen
[B]
I mean, if a young man in high school (a minor) can wear a shirt that has a pic of Bush, bearing the words, "International Terrorist"...B]

Actually, that depends on the dress code of the school.

In Miami, FL, where I taught public high school for 10 years (4 of them were as a journalism teacher - you bet I know 'freedom of speech'), students are prohibited from wearing anything that can cause a disruption in the school environment.

Most school systems probably have similar rules.

If the kid came to school wearing that shirt, he'd be told to change it, or just turn it inside out.

[amazinglagirl]

Originally posted by kdGreen
Why, thank you for correcting me so promptly, amazinggirl. I wasn't aware that the high school student attended a PUBLIC institution.

So much for trying to share opinions here... someone gets snippy when an opinion different from her own is expressed.

Oh, my. I didn't mean to come off sounding snippy at all. Please don't take offense. I think my choice of capping some words might have led you to misread my comments as hostile, which they were not intended to be at all. So I apologize for that.

I was just trying to clarify that our laws on freedom of speech does not restrict private organizations from imposing standards and restrictions on its members.

Things can sometimes come off wrong when read in type instead of in person. I do not intend to convey that I am not tolerant of others' viewpoints or opinions.