UGa Chi Phis declared 'open season' on black women?

[DSTCHAOS]

Uh oh...can "socially unconscious GreekChat" handle another thread on race (and its intersection with gender)?

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Uh oh...can "socially unconscious GreekChat" handle another thread on race (and its intersection with gender)?

"Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!"

[EE-BO]

This is just the kind of article I was afraid would come as a result of this incident.

In many respects I agree with what ElephantWalk said above- the mistrust and racism runs both ways and is counterproductive for all.

One can argue an imbalance in the ability of some races to oppress other races, but when it comes to racist feelings that generate mistrust and conflict, everyone is guilty. It is a human thing- born in fear and isolation.

This is one of those "life ain't fair" situations folks. Those 7 guys, Chi Phi at UGA, the Greek system at UGA, and the Greek system nationwide just took a hit over an incident that was likely not nearly as maliciously crafted as it has been portrayed in the media.

I expect most people who have read the article have the same positive or negative feeling about Greeks that they did beforehand- but surely some folks have gone over to the negative, or at least had negative feeling re-enforced.

The author of this article has pointed out some specific examples of media portrayals of black women as caricatures of a dominated figure- but she has failed to point out that the media hype over this incident (including her article) is part of the problem.

Race is a sensitive issue and this is one more case where an inappropriate incident is being elevated to an extreme level in order to further a much larger agenda. Notice that the author of the article mentions getting Congress involved in the solution to the portrayal of black women in music videos. It is not just about Chi Phi.

When incidents like this are used to frame the national debate, it just further separates both sides.

To put it another way- I have been out of college for a few years now. I have lived and worked in the real world. Black women as a group in the US, especially the significant percentage who are single working mothers, ARE in a very bad position that is not entirely of their own making. This is a very real and urgent problem that needs to be addressed.

But using the bad decision of some kids to make that point does nothing to further the cause. It just creates resentment.

In the end, however, this all started when those 7 guys made a decision to do something very inappropriate that they should have known would draw this kind of attention. And yes, they MADE that decision. You can only use the "I was forced to" (i.e. the hazing) argument so far. At some point you have to make your own decisions about how your actions will reflect on you and those you associate with- regardless of whether others are trying to influence those decisions.

I do not think, based on the facts known to date, that Chi Phi has been fairly treated in this article. And this will not be the last mention of it I fear.

But this is the reality that could have been forseen.

The Risk Management issue here is that any fraternity needs to gather its pledges together the DAY they are formally tapped in and let them know the ground rules. Not just the rules of how to conduct one's self, but the rules about who is allowed to give orders and who to approach among the officers if something like this incident is ever ordered.

We may never know if these guys did this on their own, or were prompted. But the risk management approach I mention above should deal with that assuming the chapter does not consider this action acceptable.

[AGDLynn]

On a somewhat related note, today at work, a lady on the phone told me that she wanted to talk with a "black person" because I didn't seem to be too concerned about her problem....this after she kept insisting that she moved to WA State because a certain GA county's law enforcement agency and district attorney were out to get her. She kept saying that she was off her meds (yea, I can see that, lol.). I was trying to help her but she wouldn't give her name so I could look up her case!

I told her how did she know that I wasn't black. She said that "I sounded white". so I transferred the call to my co-worker. The caller then told her that she wanted to talk to someone older. P said what was "young"? The caller said "25". P is just a few years shy of 60, lol.

It doesn't matter to me if you are purple with pink stripes and orange polka dots. If you don't give me your name, I can't help you. (Don't blame me if you got arrested!).

[BabyPiNK_FL]

My best friend is a Chi Phi and we are both black, this is a real shame. But one person does not speak for all, etc. etc. etc. Hopefully, they will A) get kicked off campus and B) personally learn from this experience.

[macallan25]

How do you know the Chi Phis had anything to do with this?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

My best friend is a Chi Phi and we are both black, this is a real shame. But one person does not speak for all, etc. etc. etc. Hopefully, they will A) get kicked off campus and B) personally learn from this experience.

Why do you think an organization would be kicked off campus when they had two pledges do something offensive (not illegal) which cannot be directly tied to the organization?

It seems you're jumping the gun on a few points in making these assumptions.

[shinerbock]

I hate it when people use "racism" as a reason to kick people off campus. Just leave them be, and let them have a reputation as being racist. I remember when Auburn tried to kick off Beta a couple years back, only to have Beta file suit and Auburn blinked. I don't like a society that unnaturally punishes the way people think, generally, the direct result of their actions will be punishment enough. I'm not saying that the porn thing isn't worthy of punishment, but it shouldnt have anything to do with race. We need to stop trying to protect everyone's feelings.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by AGDLynn

It doesn't matter to me if you are purple with pink stripes and orange polka dots. If you don't give me your name, I can't help you. (Don't blame me if you got arrested!).

It should matter to you if someone is purple. It means they are choking. Stop asking for their name and do the Heimlich.

Just kidding, just trying to lighten up the mood a little bit.

I think that society overall is racist, but that kneejerk reactions like banning chi phi's chapter isn't going to help anything. Really, though, the only thing Chi Phi is clearly at wrong for is giving bids to whoever thought this would be a good idea. It really is a shame, all the way around. A few dipwads ruin everybody's fun time and almost start a race war.

I also don't think that giving out porn is worthy of punishment. Their punishment will be being known as the fraterinty that gave out porn.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

It's not only racially offensive, but sexually offensive. My opinion is only my opinion. Most likely that will not happen because it won't be taken as a very "serious" offense as that is the usual response when "boys will be boys" regardless of how stupid or offensive the act is. I'm taking a lot of Women's Studies courses this semester and the things I am learning about sexism and racism are really opening my eyes to the world and the way it involves myself. It was solely my opinion. That's all.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

It's not only racially offensive, but sexually offensive.

I hope you mean that it's sexually offensive to those who were forced to look at the pics, because it really can't be offensive to the paid models who voulentarily posed for the magazine, and were fairly compensated.

[Elephant Walk]

I'm taking a lot of Women's Studies courses this semester

Have fun being poor and hairy.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

It's not only racially offensive, but sexually offensive. My opinion is only my opinion. Most likely that will not happen because it won't be taken as a very "serious" offense as that is the usual response when "boys will be boys" regardless of how stupid or offensive the act is. I'm taking a lot of Women's Studies courses this semester and the things I am learning about sexism and racism are really opening my eyes to the world and the way it involves myself. It was solely my opinion. That's all.

Well, what you are proposing goes way beyond "boys will be boys" or whatever. It has nothing to do with that at all. You're talking about a government entity (the school) punishing a private organization for actions of its prospective new members, which are offensive, but caused no actual harm.

Let's say I find abortion to be absolutely offensive (I don't really). The University's chapter of N.O.W. or whatever feminist group has a rally supporting abortion rights. They go so far as to encourage abortion as a form of birth control, even going so far as to say that an abortion occuring well within the third trimester ought to be available on demand. Being offended, would you say that I ought to be able to expect the university to revoke their recognition of participating groups because they offended me? Why not?

Do you find the naked female body to be all that offensive? Why is that?

Stay away from art museums

[Soul D-Psi-ple]

Comparing the offensiveness of Abortion to that of racism? Heh? No point was really made in that scenario. Controversy surrounds the issue of abortion, but IGNORANCE surrounds racism and sexism. There's right and wrong. What they did was wrong. It WAS offensive if black women do find it offensive. That's reality. Y'ALL do not find it offensive because you are not in their shoes. Many of y'all are quick to down play the situation when something like this happens....

Anyways, I'm not surprised by this. It is UGA after all.