Yale: DKE Apologizes for Pledge Chant Incident

exlurker · #1 10-15-2010, 05:48 PM

http://www.newser.com/story/103017/y...t-on-tape.html

Excerpt:
(Newser) – A major Yale fraternity was forced to apologize yesterday, after its members marched past the college’s Old Campus—where most first-year women are housed—chanting “No means yes, yes means anal,” and “F---ing sluts,” among other sexist comments. Several were blindfolded. The incident, . . . , was caught on tape and posted to YouTube immediately Wednesday night, according to Salon.

Yale’s other frats rushed to condemn DKE, and the group’s president issued an apology, telling the Yale Daily News that it was “a serious lapse in judgment by the fraternity and in very poor taste.” The Yale Women’s Center plans to hold a forum on the incident today, and members of the frat have promised to attend . . . .

See also an article in the Oct. 15 Yalie Daily:
http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/20...pledge-chants/

nittanygirl · #2 10-15-2010, 06:10 PM

wow... :-/

knight_shadow · #3 10-15-2010, 06:15 PM

Sometimes, I can chuckle at "frat boy antics" that I hear about. This one isn't even remotely funny, though.

Preston327 · #4 10-15-2010, 06:22 PM

Wow. If that would've happened here there'd be heads rolling. It wouldn't surprise me if this ends up screwing DKE down the line with social prospects and such though.

Drolefille · #5 10-15-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Sometimes, I can chuckle at "frat boy antics" that I hear about. This one isn't even remotely funny, though.

What you said there, I agree with it.

Alumiyum · #6 10-15-2010, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Sometimes, I can chuckle at "frat boy antics" that I hear about. This one isn't even remotely funny, though.

This^. I was pretty ambivalent until I reached "No means yes"...rape jokes are, to say the very least really low.

Elephant Walk · #7 10-15-2010, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exlurker

“No means yes, yes means anal,”

haha, I saw this on Old Row, does anyone know where it comes from?

Drolefille · #8 10-15-2010, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

haha, I saw this on Old Row, does anyone know where it comes from?

Someone who thinks rape is funny?

Oh wait.

-----
The original article says it's happened before, frequently.

Quote:

This isn’t an isolated incident; a former Women’s Center board member says the “No means yes” chant has been heard before, and that sexist frat demonstrations recur every couple years.

From 2008: Apparently the Zeta Psi pledges posed for a picture outside the Women's Center saying "We Love Yale Sluts." In 2006 the chant was outside the women's center again. In 2009, they discuss how nothing was done and the WC was essentially blamed for being too sensitive.

So really they're not sorry, they're sorry they got caught. On video this time.

AOII Angel · #9 10-15-2010, 07:25 PM

I read this on Huffpost this morning and thought, "Really, how stupid can you get?!"

Elephant Walk · #10 10-15-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Someone who thinks rape is funny?

Oh wait.

Not sure I said that.

Drolefille · #11 10-15-2010, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Not sure I said that.

Weird, you started your comment with "ha ha"

Perhaps "Ha ha" is shane for "I'm concerned about the negative influences media has on our youth"

Elephant Walk · #12 10-15-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Weird, you started your comment with "ha ha"

Perhaps "Ha ha" is shane for "I'm concerned about the negative influences media has on our youth"

Yeah, starting a sentence with haha does not implicate thinking rape is funny.

I am not surprised with your illogic.

(it might implicate that I saw the same quote on Old Row and think its funny if those kids read it.)

victoriana · #13 10-15-2010, 07:32 PM

This is horrible. I'm glad that they are being forced to apologize. I really hope that more serious disciplinary actions are taken against them, because saying things like that are just not acceptable, no matter the reason.

exlurker · #14 10-17-2010, 05:20 PM

The following letter to the Yale community from the Dean of Yale College has been reported:

October 15, 2010

Dear Members of the Yale Community:

I write in response to concern over the DKE incident on Yale's Old Campus Wednesday evening. I speak for the University in expressing my outrage that such words were shouted on this campus.

That said, I repeat the words of the C. Vann Woodward report, official University policy, regarding speech:

We take a chance, as the First Amendment takes a chance, when we commit ourselves to the idea that the results of free expression are to the general benefit in the long run, however unpleasant they may appear at the time. The validity of such a belief cannot be demonstrated conclusively. It is a belief of recent historical development, even within universities, one embodied in American constitutional doctrine but not widely shared outside the academic world, and denied in theory and in practice by much of the world most of the time.

In short, we do not censor speech on our campus but — in order to trust one another and to be confident in our communications — free expression calls for an environment of civility and respect. In this light, consider the official statement on Sexual Harassment of the University:

Sexual harassment is antithetical to academic values and to a work environment free from the fact or appearance of coercion. It is a violation of University policy and may result in serious disciplinary action. Sexual harassment consists of nonconsensual sexual advances, request for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature on or off campus.

So here is the immediate question that many have asked today: what is Yale doing in response? Today, at least 150 students, largely from the Women's Center and DKE met together, a landmark meeting to begin a dialogue that we hope leads to mutual respect. After a public session, the students met in small groups with dialogue facilitators. Thus begins a long process.

But others will ask as well, what more is Yale doing in response? Is someone being punished? What will be known, ultimately, about any disciplinary response to the DKE shouting on the Old Campus of October 13, 2010?

Any and all disciplinary processes are confidential at Yale, from their inception through their conclusion as required under federal law and University policy.

In short, the process is not designed to provide satisfaction to those who might feel aggrieved as members of the larger community in which the offense has occurred.

But what matters most here is that the larger community has addressed the particular fraternity, DKE, and held them responsible and accountable for their actions. What is important to recognize is that DKE has accepted responsibility, opening a new level of discourse on the issue of sexual harassment. This is an opportunity to seize.

Yours truly,

Mary Miller

Dean of Yale College

BadCat25 · #15 10-15-2010, 07:35 PM

Yale rejected me and they let these morons in. Just wonderful.