Bad News - Page 2

kittie · #16 05-09-2001, 01:08 PM

Although I definitely think that whole newsletter is in bad taste, I don't think it's something for all the people at Dartmouth to get up in arms about. It's just them joking around. Yeah, it was vulgar but it wasn't serious. I have a feeling that if it hadn't of happened at an Ivy League school people wouldn't have cared as much.

shadokat · #17 05-09-2001, 06:05 PM

We have a chapter of Zeta Psi at our university, and they're really nice guys. Because one group does something foolish does not mean condemnation of their entire national organization. Unfortunately, Dartmouth seems to have problems that run far deeper than we know.

As James said, if we could overhear the conversations that go on each day in the lives of folks, this might seem pretty tame. All in all, I must say it's, as someone else so eloquently said, GROSS!

SuperXO · #18 05-09-2001, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James:

The paper is obviously a humorous parody, albeit on the most basic, almost "toilet humour" variety, but is no less the reflection of what many groups of males would being saying among themselves in a humorous social situation.

It's okay to talk about these things, because we do after all, have freedom of speech. But publishing it is a different matter and a lot more serious, IMO. They have to know they could be affecting a lot more people and run the risk of exposure. Not only were they dumb, but they were tasteless and foolish.

Of course, this is not a judgement (from me anyway) on the fraternity as a whole, or even all the brothers in that chapter. But,it sure does prove what we always say about representing the entire Greek System every time you do something foolish.

[This message has been edited by SuperXO (edited May 09, 2001).]

33girl · #19 05-13-2001, 06:50 PM

Here's a link to the pro-Greek Dartmouth Review regarding this situation.
http://www.dartreview.com/issues/5.7.01/

Apparently the ex-brother who wrote the column in theta-cutie's link applied to be editor of this report, and didn't get the position. He depledged shortly after.

FouRPlaY · #20 05-15-2001, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SuperXO:
I found this on CNN today. it is bad news about a fraternity that certainly did not represent the Greek System very well. I was kind of upset about this! it's like making light of lynching or the holocaust. Even if people joke about this with friends, it's certainly not something I think should ever be published!
http://fyi.cnn.com/2001/fyi/teachers...ape/index.html

I don't know how to make it into a hyperlink, so sorry if you have to cut and paste it into your browser!

It's important to keep in mind two things about this story:[list=1][*]A Brother of Zeta Psi was not involved[*]There was no rape[/list=a]

The person accused was not a Brother, they were both at a party thrown by Zeta Psi. And, most importantly, she latter admitted to having made the accusation up, after Police found no evidence to support the claim.

Do not be too harsh on the guys from Dartmouth. They screwed up. We all do from time to time. But, as we all know, Greeks are already under a microscope.

------------------
Spencer Rupert
<A HREF="http://"http://www.zetapsi.org"" TARGET=_blank>Zeta Psi Fraternity</A>
<A HREF="http://"http://www.uwzetapsi.com"" TARGET=_blank>Alpha Theta Chapter</A>

zete_boy · #21 05-15-2001, 01:21 PM

One bad apple spoils the whole bunch?

Hard to say. Well to try to speak for the brothers at the dartmouth chapter, i am the editor of my chapter's newsletter (the Zulu) and the whole intent of the newsletter is fot brothers eyes only, how these copies got printed or out of the hands of the chapter, i can't say (cause i don't know) and i can't really say for sure if they are factual or not, but from my opinon (take it for what you will) it does seem to be a mock issue intent on making fun of the actives, not to be discriminating in any sort of way. Sure it may have been smarter for the brothers to not mention any of the ladies names or even bring up the subject of date rape (huge faux pas) but you have to look at the fact they probablly didn't expect the public to get thier hands on it, again i'm not making excuses for them at all. Punishment must be made for their actions, they must have been smarter with what they did. I know my university paper makes a mock issue at the end of every year for the students, making fun of the dean and anything else, but they also try to do it in an intellegent and more tactfull way. I can say from what i know of the gentlemen that these men can prove to be quite inetellegent, because of the paper i read that they wrote to the university about a year or more ago, concerning the universitiy's intent to make all greek organizations go co-ed, as soon as i can trak the article down i will post it for you all to see. All i ask from you all is to take all you read from this with a grain of salt, wait till ALL the facts come to light before passing a true judgement.

The Zeta Psi fraternity of North America has a long tradition of excellence, we consider ourselves to be the gentlemans fraternity, the ivy league fraternity, because for a time we were at every ivy league school. We are a small fraternity right now, but this is because we wish to be part of universities that we feel display the qualities that we deem worthy of Zeta Psi, sounds elitist eh? Well to me it says we strive for execellence. We have been around since 1847, one of the oldest greek organizations still in exsistance, we were the first fraternity to go national in 1870 when we expanded our brotherhood to berkley, and then another first was we were the FIRST international fraternity when we expanded in to Canada in 1879 at the unversity of toronto. So i leave you with this thought, please don't judge us all for something very dumb that a few brothers at one of our chapters may have done, we have a long line of tradition and excellence, heck we've been around for over 150 years, we had to have done someting right. Please wait till you hear it all, before you bash the orgainization i love.

Thank you

------------------
Edgar A. Hartling
Zulu and Constitution Contact
Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America - Alpha Mu Chapter
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia

pledgetrainer2 · #22 05-23-2001, 09:12 PM

I'm sorry, fella, but date rape is a HUGE issue in this country and around the world. There is no humor in it, and I don't care how long your organization has been around. I don't believe for one minute that members at Dartmouth have raped, too.

James · #23 05-23-2001, 09:41 PM

I wouldn't touch the topic of date rape with a ten foot poll . . . its too emotional and not logical, and its become to political also. However, The chapter at Dartmouth didn't Date rape . . . so why are they being punished?

SuperXO · #24 05-24-2001, 11:42 AM

Because, just like pledgetrainer said, they made a joke out of it. By doing so, they are discrediting the seriousness of the crime and the trauma of all victims.

Like I said before, it's not okay to make a joke out of the holocaust or lynching of blacks...those are both horrible crimes that should be taken serisouly. Why would it ever be okay to make a joke out of the same kind of hate crime towards women? They may not date rape, but that doesn't mean they should feel good about themselves!

pledgetrainer2 · #25 05-24-2001, 02:40 PM

Thanks for that comment. I was so upset with his answer that I couldn't post anything to him. I do believe that most men think that rape is non-existent, so it just keeps going on and on. Attitudes like the ones displayed by this group of men just keep the problem out there, and it IS REAL!

SuperXO · #26 05-24-2001, 02:47 PM

I agree! Even if people think the actual crime is serious, they don't treat discussion of it seriously, or treat the victims like they would treat victims of race crimes or other senseless violence.

I wonder if men feel like I do when I imagine it happening to me and then to have the added injustice of the raper laughing at me and getting high fives from his buddies for his "conquest." it makes me feel like crying and it hasn't even happened to me! but, it has happened to others and just like we think the Nazis are monsters for killing Jews and congratualting themsleves on it, we should think any men (or women) are monsters that laugh about rape or portray it in a humorous way (Okay, I'll stop beating the holocaust dead-horse!)

RUgreek · #27 06-04-2001, 10:36 AM

Excuse me if I may post my opinion on this situation... I for one think that Zeta Psi has committed no crime whatsover and doesn't deserve to be thrown off for a newsletter! Ok, maybe I'm not sensitive to every issue out there, but I do recall that I live in America, and if I have to tolerate white supremacists holding rallies and marching anytime they damn please, then I think a satirical newsletter that was only printed for the privacy of the brotherhood does not warrant disciplinary action. I think it's sloppy and stupid that it got out and was sent to the press, but at Rutgers we have a weekly newspaper called "The Medium" It's filled with nothing but porn, attacks against the university president, fictious articles, etc. The Zetemouth is definitely harsh and nobody should make fun of date rape, but once again I still have my first amendment right and the last time I checked Dartmouth was still part of this country.

Thank you

(P.S. I hope I did not offend anyone with my comments, that was not my intention at all. If I did, I'm going to apologize right now, later....)

BronxZete · #28 06-04-2001, 04:53 PM

I definitely have to agree with RUgreek. I think that there are far worse things that are going on in our country. I am not saying that i agree with the newsletter but it was made for the purpose of humor and for brotehrs only. The paper was not made for the whole college to see it. I bet that there are other organizations not meaning greeks that actually care out the crime. so before we start to bash Zeta Psi lets look at the whole perspective.

33girl · #29 06-04-2001, 09:08 PM

BronxZete and RUGreek, I agree with both of you. The "date rape" reference was apparently something along the lines of "In the next issue: Joe Shmo's date rape techniques" and the reason the bros considered this humorous was because Joe Shmo was shy and meek around women. It would be similar to saying "In this issue, Roseanne Barr's tips for singing the Star Spangled Banner" or "Marlon Brando's weight loss tips."

I agree date rape is an issue so sensitive that it shouldn't be brought up, but more than some men being crude, I question the mental state of the chick who dug through the garbage to find a copy of the paper.

#30 06-04-2001, 10:35 PM

heres what i heard b/c theis was brought up on the show Politically Incorrect. It was actually Date Rape Awareness Week at Dartmouth and the paper was suppose to be saying how stupid date rape is in a mocking way. The frat meant no offense by it and it wasnt even suppose to leave the house. The girls names who are listed on a different page have nothing to do with the date rape thing. They just have list of what guy has done what girl. Gross, yes, but come on alot of frats/ and non greeks have their list of who does who. Now some chick who was wronged by the frat got hold of it and brought it to peoples attention. Should they be thrown off. No. A warning, yeah. Just like we dont want non greeks judging us because of something one chapter does, we shouldnt judge that chapter until we get all the facts.