Phi Mu resigned membership over 'nipple' swimsuit top

[jolene1]

How could she have not known that the top was questionable?

http://www.people.com/article/free-t...-nipple-bikini

[AZTheta]

I don't know that I agree with your statement that it was a questionable top. Further,

1) it was a PRIVATE Instagram account.

2) Didn't see that she was wearing anything that identified her as a member of Phi Mu.

3) What is the big deal about womens' nipples? Breast feeding? Holy cow. SMH.

Reading Phi Mu's statement, I ask if they are truly prepared to act on that, because I guarantee you that those Instagrams are full of photos that don't depict "the highest standards of conduct at all times". That's why their Instagram accounts are private, for the love of Mike.

In another thread someone (was it 33?) talked about the furor 20 years ago over political candidates' experimentation with "drugs" and how today it's NBD. How is this any different?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I'm embarrassed for my organization on this one, and I support Lauren.

[APhiLife]

My personal take is that the top is in bad taste- but I don't think that posting a picture of it on a personal site should have affected her membership status.

[jolene1]

Originally Posted by APhiLife

My personal take is that the top is in bad taste- but I don't think that posting a picture of it on a personal site should have affected her membership status.

I agree. It should have been handled more delicately and not so black and white. However, IIRC Belmont is a Christian university so it doesn't surprise me that her chapter may have had an issue with it.

[OPhiAGinger]

I think it's funny that the photo in the linked article blurred out her chest even though her actual boobs are completely covered. They blurred out a flesh-colored bikini top with a printed picture of nipples.

I agree that the nip-top is super-tacky and I wouldn't have forced her to resign over it. But I also think this is the type of thing that should be decided at the local level, with an appellate process that goes to a higher level. The local exec board knows their campus culture much better than outsiders.

[andthen]

Would I have worn the top, no. But I do agree with her stance about trying to de-stigmatize female nipples. I've always asked myself the fairness of men being to run around bare chested yet there is an expectation of females to cover up.

From reading her point of view on this, she's got a great attitude about the situation and isn't playing the role of victim in this.

I think my new hash tag will be "free the mammaries"

[Munchkin03]

Wait, what?

[33girl]

I'm really sick of hearing this whole "breasts are just to feed babies" line, because it isn't the truth.

[SWTXBelle]

I've never heard that they were "JUST" to feed babies, but there is a big problem when people seemingly think they are JUST to be sexy and therefore it is acceptable to show 'em to be sexy, but not to feed babies.

[BlueOwl]

Bravo to the young woman for standing up for her values. Not only does she have nipples, but she also has balls!

[Sciencewoman]

It seems like she's resigned her membership over the right to wear a tacky swim top. If I were her, I would have stood up for myself instead of resigning.

I have to believe that there are plenty of sorority women who have visited topless beaches while abroad, and who have actually gone topless.

[robinseggblue]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

It seems like she's resigned her membership over the right to wear a tacky swim top. If I were her, I would have stood up for myself instead of resigning.

I have to believe that there are plenty of sorority women who have visited topless beaches while abroad, and who have actually gone topless.

I think Phi Mu would consider that a problem from their statement to Cosmo.

Lauren Forsythe is a former member of the Theta Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity at Belmont University. Lauren voluntarily relinquished her Phi Mu membership by submitting a resignation letter to the Chapter President; that paperwork was processed at the Headquarters on August 14, 2015.
When Lauren was a member of the Theta Chapter, the Chapter President asked Lauren to remove a photo from Instagram because it appeared in the photo that Lauren was topless. As a (then) member of Phi Mu, Lauren was held to the same expectations of all collegiate members in representing their chapter and the organization, including, from the Phi Mu Fraternity Policy on Human Dignity/Noble Womanhood: "Members should emulate the highest standards of conduct at all times."
The National Headquarters became aware of the photo and this situation on August 12, 2015, after the Chapter President and Chapter Adviser had both addressed the matter with Lauren. The Chapter President and Adviser handled the situation appropriately.
Disciplinary matters are handled internally by collegiate chapters during the academic year. Lauren did not go through any disciplinary process prior to relinquishing her Phi Mu membership.​

If the problem was appearing topless (even though she wasn't) then wouldn't being topless also be a problem? It wouldn't fit with their standards of conduct.

[Hartofsec]

Would a tasteless instagram pic like this be problematic for a PNM going through recruitment? Probably. See stickies.

Especially at a small southern Christian college? Yes.

Why should she expect a pass on the other side as an active?

Stupid hill to die on for 5 minutes of attention, IMO, especially for someone who has never even breastfed a child. But hey, now she is free to accomplish great things freeing nipples everywhere. Perhaps she should start with her own by ditching the tacky top.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Stupid hill to die on for 5 minutes of attention, IMO, especially for someone who has never even breastfed a child.

Yup, nobody should ever stand up for anything that doesn't personally affect them. That has always worked out well for society.