Penn State Chi O Under Investigation

[flirt5721]

Another example as to watch what one puts on social media sites.

I am all for theme parties but not disrespecting someones culture. I myself did not mind the sombreros and sarapes but the signs they have are completely ignorant and I take it as racially insensitive. Having family that has been killed in Mexico within the last 3 years due to drug war just makes even worse.

http://onwardstate.com/2012/12/04/pe...-photograph-2/

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by flirt5721

Another example as to watch what one puts on social media sites.

No, the lesson here is NOT TO BE RACIST. Keeping it off Twitter doesn't suddenly make it okay (I know that you wouldn't think it was, I'm just saying that this stuff shouldn't happen privately, either).

[adpimiz]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

No, the lesson here is NOT TO BE RACIST. Keeping it off Twitter doesn't suddenly make it okay (I know that you wouldn't think it was, I'm just saying that this stuff shouldn't happen privately, either).

Not only are these girls obviously being racist, they seem as if they don't see anything wrong with it. They're all smiling and happy in the pictures.. :/

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by adpimiz

Not only are these girls obviously being racist, they seem as if they don't see anything wrong with it. They're all smiling and happy in the pictures.. :/

And they are being total ASSHOLES. It is one thing to appropriate...I will cut privileged white girls a little bit of slack for not understanding why sombreros and ponchos at a fiesta party are troublesome. However, in this case, with the signs and everything, it is flat-out mean-spirited. They KNOW they are being hurtful, and just don't give a shit.

[Kevin]

Interesting that Panhellenic would be considering suspending the group over speech. Is Panhellenic a private organization or is it sponsored and somewhat controlled by the school?

I don't really agree with an umbrella punishing the chapter or anyone but Chi Omega taking punitive action here. In fact, if they do so, they'd possibly be violating Chi Omega's civil rights.

University speech codes are very arguably unconstitutional as are any codes which would be promulgated by student life or even possibly Panhellenic depending on how it's organized.

[AZTheta]

Kevin - questions:

1) University Student Code of Conduct: would that regulate this behavior?

2) Do not believe that Panhellenic should be disciplining (think this is addressed in the NPC Green Book), but would there be a Greek Judicial Standards Board (or something of the sort) that would get involved?

I believe that many (most? all?) GLOs, at some point in time, have gotten a black eye over something, and I'm going to say, once again, there but for the grace of God go you and I. It could be any group on any given day - who can say for sure? This will be handled internally through the appropriate channels, and Chi Omega at Penn State will surely return to the values it espouses in its Symphony. Give time time.

(My personal opinion: for the love of Mike, keep it off the Internet, you fools. Sheesh. Does everything have to be published? Seriously? Good grief, people. It's one thing to be stupid, it's another thing to immortalize it for the world at large. But no, you guys have to photograph everything and immediately post it online. Thank GOD there was no Internet when I was doing stupid things, and we had to take photos with cameras that had film, and we were terrified to take the film to be developed, so we didn't photograph anything we did. Although I am not saying we made stupid signs, but we did do stupid stuff. We did. And anyone who denies it is either senile or lying.)

[IUHoosiergirl88]

Maybe it's just me, but does anyone else see the issue with the author basically 'outing' one girl in the chapter? Not that it's not all publicly available information that someone couldn't get anyways, but even if I agree that XO was in the wrong, that author crossed some major lines for me

[33girl]

If the university wants to prosecute them, that's one thing. This is simply not Panhellenic's area. As far as I can see, they didn't say anything against another sorority or do anything to interfere with rush.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by IUHoosiergirl88

Maybe it's just me, but does anyone else see the issue with the author basically 'outing' one girl in the chapter? Not that it's not all publicly available information that someone couldn't get anyways, but even if I agree that XO was in the wrong, that author crossed some major lines for me

Agree!

[UGAalum94]

I agree that these pictures with the signs are just ugly. I wouldn't even try to defend anything going on here. The signs make it clear that it's not all in lighthearted fun.

I'm also familiar with the "It's (or was it I'm?) a culture, not a costume" advertising campaign, and it struck me when I saw it that I think we may be going overboard with political correctness when this kind of criticism is too sweeping. Telling people to be mindful not to wear costumes that give offense is a great idea: don't get me wrong. But basically saying that all cultural costumes are essentially off the table is probably taking it too far. There's nothing wrong, in my opinion, with serapes, sombreros, etc, when they aren't paired with other degrading stereotypes.

[AOII Angel]

Mustaches are a thing right now, and I'd bet it's more about the mustache than mocking Mexicans. The signs put them over the top.

[Just interested]

I own a sombrero and even a serapes is no problem. All you have to do is visit Fiesta in San Antonio every April to see them worn by people of all nationalities and backgrounds and sold on every street corner. The signs, however, crossed the line. They turned what could have been a cute theme party into something entirely different. Where were the peasant blouses, the brightly colored skirts and the rings of flowers in their hair? No, they intended to degrade and that is inexcusable.

[chi-o_cat]

This was posted on the Chi Omega Facebook page this morning:

Sisters and friends,

Please read below for an important announcement from Chi Omega.

The Governing Council of Chi Omega Fraternity placed its Nu Gamma Chapter at Pennsylvania State University on probation effective Monday, due to members portraying inappropriate and untrue ethnic stereotypes at a social function.

Chi Omega's national headquarters staff is working closely with the university and Panhellenic Council on campus to implement corrective educational directives for the chapter.

"I am disappointed in the choices made by our Nu Gamma Chapter members and we regret any pain caused," said Chi Omega's National President Letitia Fulkerson. "We are taking this situation very seriously. Chi Omega does not condone behavior that violates our organization's policy on human dignity."

The Fraternity expects its members to share and promote the belief that self-respect, esteem, and a respect for others are necessary ingredients for healthy relationships with all members of the Penn State community.



http://www.chiomega.com/flourish/chi...nnstatechapter

[MaggieXi]

This made the local Philadelphia area news last night. The reporter was trying to make a correlation between the Chi Omega photo and that the school has been "riddled with controversy since the Jerry Sandusky issue". IMO, it was a big leap to try and make.

[jenidallas]

And it made the Today show too. Beyond perpetuating false cultural stereotypes, now we are in the position of having negative Greek stereotypes perpetuated too.