Penn State Chi O Under Investigation

[ibis]

Then in a different vein, if one is not Irish, can I celebrate St. Patricks Day and wear shamrocks and green?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ibis

Then in a different vein, if one is not Irish, can I celebrate St. Patricks Day and wear shamrocks and green?

Yes, and it'd still be okay if you dressed up like a leprachan, drank far too much green beer and went around looking to start fights with Protestants.

I don't see the Irish student association doing anything more than raising a glass to you.

[chi-o_cat]

There was a thread on GC about the topic of racism and theme parties somewhat recently, actually:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=129656

I agree that the signs are what sent this story into the national news, instead of just something in a college newspaper. The costume choices are unfortunate, but the signs are unacceptable.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Yes, and it'd still be okay if you dressed up like a leprachan, drank far too much green beer and went around looking to start fights with Protestants.

I don't see the Irish student association doing anything more than raising a glass to you.

Of course that would be different if you were at Queen's University Belfast. (The Irish stereotype *more* controversial and the Mexican/Latin American *less*).

From what I can tell, Sombreros more broadly Latin American in distribution and the Serapes more specifically Mexican

[MaggieXi]

Does anyone think that had this been any other campus - it would have been passed over by the media? But for the fact that this is Penn State, it was picked up on?

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by ibis

Then in a different vein, if one is not Irish, can I celebrate St. Patricks Day and wear shamrocks and green?

Not quite the same when you don't include an offensive sign that makes sweeping generalizations about a culture.

Originally Posted by MaggieXi

Does anyone think that had this been any other campus - it would have been passed over by the media? But for the fact that this is Penn State, it was picked up on?

*Raises hand* We had an almost identical issue on my campus when I was a freshman. I don't think it made it past the school paper.

ETA: Apparently it did make it to the local paper cause I just found a link here on GC. But yeah, it didn't get any bigger than that.

[ADPi95]

Just took a look at the photo, and what could have been a totally cute pic with the sombreros and sarapes (even the mustaches), they totally ruined it with the signs. Being Hispanic I don't take offense to the costumes used, but the signs were way out of line.

[MaggieXi]

Penn State just posted this statement: http://live.psu.edu/story/63089

[kateee]

smh
This is disappointing news. Chi Omega's are classy, refined women. These girls will be taken care of by nationals and I trust my organization to deal with this accordingly. I just wish that it wasn't so big, because my mother is using it as ammo for why I shouldn't join.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by kateee

smh
This is disappointing news. Chi Omega's are classy, refined women. These girls will be taken care of by nationals and I trust my organization to deal with this accordingly. I just wish that it wasn't so big, because my mother is using it as ammo for why I shouldn't join.

Okay, the Sacramento Bee -- yeah, way out California way -- has posted this article, which contains a statement by the president of Chi Omega:

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/06/503...sanctions.html

Excerpt from article:

“By Chi Omega Fraternity

Published: Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 - 4:03 am

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 6, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- 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." . . .
"

[DubaiSis]

I think the best we can take from this is a life lesson for sorority and fraternity members everywhere. Unfortunately, the first take away is don't post things that will get your arse in a vice, when it should be don't be racist. But young girls who may well have gone to very white schools in affluent neighborhoods may be too oblivious to the world around them to even know that this sort of behavior is racist. Not saying this crap is step 1 toward not thinking it. And then you might also work on your chapter diversity so that you will be aware that your actions are hurtful.

It's hard for me to imagine someone growing up in America without knowing any people of Hispanic descent but they may be too oblivious to know that Suzie Sanchez or Rodriguez might be Hispanic. I mean, she doesn't sell drugs at all!

As I see it, this is not a legal issue. It was offensive, but I don't think crosses the line to hate speech. This is a sorority matter and I'm sure Chi Omega will deal with it accordingly.

And kateee, if you are not a sorority member, you should not have sorority letters in your signature line. It is bad form and will not bode well for you in your future rush.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

And kateee, if you are not a sorority member, you should not have sorority letters in your signature line. It is bad form and will not bode well for you in your future rush.

She's a New Member.

[kateee]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

And kateee, if you are not a sorority member, you should not have sorority letters in your signature line. It is bad form and will not bode well for you in your future rush.

I already rushed, I just haven't been initiated yet. My mother has been fighting a constant battle to get me to quit. I paid my dues myself and am on track for initiation! Its happening very soon.

[LionTamer]

But then I read the signs, which are just racist and snotty and reinforce the negative stereotypes of exactly how non-Greeks think about sorority girls as unpleasant spoiled bitches. Ugh.

I loved being in a sorority. I learned leadership, group dynamics, organizational skills, dealing with disparate personalities, and the value of having good women friends.

I had (and continue to have) a LOT of close friends in that very chapter and they were seriously great girls. I'm guessing some of these girls are their daughters, and that just makes me sad.

The whole point of college is to move these narrow, stupid, gated-community prejudices out of people's heads by exposing them to the wider world.

Ugh.

(oh, and 33girl is right. Central PA is VERY isolated and homogeneous)

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

It's hard for me to imagine someone growing up in America without knowing any people of Hispanic descent

In most of PA, it's pretty much the norm.