Racial Conflict

[shinerbock]

We had 25-27 IFC fraternities on my campus, and at any given time I could count the minorities in them on one hand. Usually using one or two fingers. Hope that answers your questions.

[shinerbock]

FSU, to be fair, Arkansas is a classic southern type school. FSU is not. I'm no fan of Arkansas, but from what I know their greek system is decent.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

We had 25-27 IFC fraternities on my campus, and at any given time I could count the minorities in them on one hand. Usually using one or two fingers. Hope that answers your questions.

So then, you assume that you could not have anything in common (or the same interests?!) with blacks, asians, hispanics or other minorities? What if you went to high school with the person, played on the same sports team, hung out with the same friends, your parents worked together, etc.?

My point is I think one could argue that in fact the only thing you might NOT have in common with some people in these minorities is race.

[shinerbock]

Seriously, we're all aware that there are minorities who share things in common with us. We're not assuming anything. They don't rush. Pay attention to that, in my 4 years of college, do you know how many times a minority student came to our house during rush? Zero. Not once. Also, the simple fact that somewhere out in the world there are minorities who are similar to us doesn't mean they're around at school. I met one black kid like us in undergrad. One. Its like people expect us to do some minority recruitment drive. Diversity for the sake of diversity is a stupid, stupid idea. I'm from GA, and there are guys in my fraternity from Texas, Tennessee, SC, Charlotte, etc...See, we're diverse.

[PeppyGPhiB]

I'm not suggesting some sort of special recruiting, merely saying that I think it's a shame if minorities either don't rush or get cut from rush just because of race. Especially if some of those folks could be superb brothers/sisters.

[shinerbock]

Well, we probably cut plenty of good guys because they wear Abercrombie too. Life isn't fair.

[UGAalum94]

DSTCHAOS,

Are you white? If you aren't, I'm a little surprised that you'd make the claim that you know what is like to be the average white person. Social networks exist for people of any race or backgroup; the average white network isn't the power system I think you imagine it to be.

Shinerbock, Macallen, Elephant Walk,

Of course, you guys can use whatever membership standard you want to use. I do understand what the top houses are like at southern schools. But when you make the claims based on elitism that you guys seem to be making, please understand that some of the causes and some of the effects of your standards are racist. If you're happy with that, whatever, but when you think of great men in history they usually sought to be noble and work for the social good, in addition to being good hosts and having good manners.

I'd also throw out there that your failure to seek out the best guys on campus, rather than waiting for guys to show up at rush, isn't probably falling short of what your founders had in mind and is probably causing your groups to become weaker over time. People are still showing up for your parties, but your influence in probably shrinking.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

Shinerbock, Macallen, Elephant Walk,

Of course, you guys can use whatever membership standard you want to use. I do understand what the top houses are like at southern schools. But when you make the claims based on elitism that you guys seem to be making, please understand that some of the causes and some of the effects of your standards are racist. If you're happy with that, whatever, but when you think of great men in history they usually sought to be noble and work for the social good, in addition to being good hosts and having good manners.

When the hell did I ever make any claims based on "elitism"?? What is your deal with using this word? I have been pretty calm, but you are really starting to piss me off. I don't think that I am better than anyone, period. Our standards are in no way, shape or form, fucking racist. Some of you morons don't understand the magnitude of that word......and I take quite a bit of offense when me or my chapter is accused of being racist becasue we don't go out of out way to extend a bid to a fucking minority. We have every right in the world to extend bids to guys whom we see fit to be a part of our chapter. We have areas and locations that we like to get guys from...and the rest of our pledge numbers are made up during rush. I honestly do try to get a very good idea of the kind of guys that come through our house.......and I have yet to see a black guy that is anything close to what we would want. Nothing in common, period. As far as Asians and Hispanics.....don't really see any......and the ones that do go through would rather be in a Latino or Asian fraternity from what I can tell through the years.

I'm glad you think that we are unable to be "noble and work for the social good" because we don't go searching for a minority that might fit in with our fraternity.....nice logic there. Last time I checked, the men in our house wrere all raised in a high class social upbringing that certainly taught them how to be good hosts, and I don't think anyone would say that they weren't gentlemen.

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

I'd also throw out there that your failure to seek out the best guys on campus, rather than waiting for guys to show up at rush, isn't probably falling short of what your founders had in mind and is probably causing your groups to become weaker over time. People are still showing up for your parties, but your influence in probably shrinking.

Sorry, we don't wait around till formal rush starts and then "search" for guys on campus. A large proportion of our pledge class is already determined prior to school starting. Being at UGA I figured you would have some knowledge of how fraternity recruitment works. This is why a good chapter holds rush parties in areas that they like to recruit from and holds rush trips for the guys that we are really interested in. Obviously there are always some guys that will come through the house during rush that we may take a look at.....but for the most part the class is already made up. If we don't find anyone during rush that we don't think would be a good fit......tough shit. Besides the point, why should we try to pursue people that don't show any interest in us IN THE FIRST PLACE?? I haven't seen a black guy at any one of our rush events in the summer....ever.....and the ones that are held at the fraternity houses during the summer are enormous parties. Same goes for bar tabs, golf tournaments, ranch trips, New Orleans trips, etc. etc.

Sorry........we aren't getting weaker because we don't actively pursue minorities for the sake of saying we are diversified. That is horrible reasoning.....

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

DSTCHAOS,

Are you white?

Yes.

So are Peggy McIntosh and Joe Feagin.