Diversity in the SEC

[DrPhil]

Those of you who wish to stop discussing should do so. The rest of us will continue until we are done. Greekchat is funny in that any other SEC thread can go for pages with sometimes no real need to keep going. But mention diversity and race and suddenly SEC threads need to have an official end point and silence announcement in order to make some people's Cheerios float in the almond milk. Eat your Cheerios and drink the leftover almond milk while we discuss.

Plus, discussion is about knowledge and understanding. It is not always about changing minds and agreement. Greekchatters like HartofSEC are curious about some things. HartofSEC can use our discussion as research even if it appears as though (hint ) we are not directly answering HartofSEC's question.

[33girl]

I understand what DrPhil and sigmadiva are saying. We are talking about groups where (in some chapters) there are pages and pages of appropriate wardrobe for rush, behavioral standards, etc. In such a situation where the tiniest things are noticed, it's kind of asinine to say "I don't even notice she's black." What are you, blind? (Maybe you get extra points for pledging a blind girl. And if she was blind AND black - WOW!)

And as far as NPC orgs go, there are some chapters of historically Jewish organizations where a non-Jew would feel very unwelcome, and the national group apparently has no problem with that. That sounds judgy, I don't mean it to, just stating a fact, and that is their right to exercise membership selection however they want to. NPC hasn't kicked them out yet.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Plus, discussion is about knowledge and understanding. It is not always about changing minds and agreement. Greekchatters like HartofSEC are curious about some things. HartofSEC can use our discussion as research even if it appears as though (hint ) we are not directly answering HartofSEC's question.

If I am to use this discussion as research -- I find the conclusions regarding how white people feel to be either surprising, since I am white, or amazingly clairvoyant, if you are not:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

These discussions are not about tutorials for white people. Not every nonwhite person is going to like what you say and do. No one is obligated to be receptive and welcoming to white people. Racial and ethnic minorities (in general) are accustomed to that. Whites (in general) are not accustomed to that and feel entitled to getting unwarranted smiles and tutorials. Perhaps silently observing would work when all else fails. The need to figuratively shout your presence and flounce is the same race cliche and white privilege all over again.

The topic of this thread is Diversity in the SEC. If this issue actually is important to you (beyond an opportunity to grandstand), it doesn't make sense to whack members of the target audience who are in a position to advocate for change.