And the Blackest Chi Omega Award Goes To...

[33girl]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
The article clearly states that there are no Black members of Chi Omega at Kent State.

The article also states that Candice Poole, the Black student, member of Zeta Phi Beta, is a student manager of dining/banquet services who was at the banquet working and heard the award.

A member of Chi Omega at Kent State who is NOT BLACK received the award as Blackest member award which could be translated to the Most Ghetto Member of the Kent State chapter of Chi Omega.

And it only took me one read to get this.

I agree, and I certainly don't think that Candice would be in Chi O and Z Phi B at the same time, which is something else that a poster seemed to be trying to say.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by xo_kathy
I wanted to post with a little more insider info:

I have had contact with a member involved in the chapter - I'm not saying if it's an active, advisor, or alum b/c our National is really strict about anyone commenting so I don't want to get her in trouble - but it's someone who is currently dealing with this first hand...

This was NOT a sanctioned award, nor was it something voted on by the chapter or the people planning formal. It was something one person basically added in that night. It is NOT a normal "award" like Most Likely to Be an Advisor or Most Spirited or something. That doesn't make it okay, but PLEASE understand that it was NOT the entire chapter of Chi O at Kent State who thought this would be a swell thing to do.

Chi O at Kent is a well-respected, academically successful chapter. They are racially diverse relative to a campus that generally does not have black women who go through NPC recruitment. They have had black members in the past, though they do not currently.

Again, I am not making excuses for the few women who did this, but from what I am hearing it was not malicious in intent, but unfortunately mis-guided and still insensitive. BUT, please do not blame an entire chapter of women who were not even aware of this until the same moment as Candace when it was only the action of a few.

Thank you for the added insight from an insider's point of view.

And hey I was right -- no current Black members of the chapter.

[xo_kathy]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Thank you for the added insight from an insider's point of view.

And hey I was right -- no current Black members of the chapter.

[Rudey]

I figure this. I figure that every group of friends interacts differently. It's the intent that bothers me or doesn't bother me. If I knew that Chaldean and the person he won the "Award" from, and it didn't seem like the guy had bad intentions, I wouldn't flip out over it. I mean yeah I'd think it's ignorant, but I wouldn't think it was worth more of my time than that.

I constantly hear people talk about cars that are "Riced" up, people using the phrase "Don't Jew me", television shows with black actors saying to white actors "You're so white", or referring to things as "Ghetto" or "Gay" or "Retarded" and I'm sure most people do as well. And before you say it, it's not just on TV. I've had my friends make fun of other guys because they can't dance and say they were "So white". Most people don't put it on ABC news anytime they hear something like that.

-Rudey

Originally posted by enigma_AKA
It would still be ridiculous, but that wasn't what the award was...

Consider this (to all):

You happen to attend a function honoring, say, one's social/cultural/academic/athletic/whatever. You're White/Black/Jewish/Christian/Female/Handicapped/Whatever. You hear the MC say "And here's the award for the most Jewish in the group". It goes to a Chaldean (Arab Christian).

Or maybe "Here's the award for the most female". You turn and see a male run up to the podium.

The 'most handicapped'? You see a limber, fit, presumably athletic track star skip up to the stage, graciously bowing as they accept their award.

If you fall into the hypothetical category above, it might occur to you to wonder: 'Hmmmm, how can one be Jewish? What does it mean to them to be Jewish?' (I don't know; I'm not). And 'How do they know?' From this, you know they are just bouncing off stereotypes--

Or you might be ascertaining as to why an athlete would be considered the 'most handicapped', though he/she is not. You are and you still might be wondering "How can one (assumingly physically sound/non-handicapped) be the most handicapped without actually being so?"

The reason why many might not take offense/understand the gravity of the situation is probably due to lack of relavance (i.e. how a sorority woman might not understand why it may be offensive to a Black person but could understand being offended at the gross stereotyping concerning those in sororities...or not).

I say good for the body that decided that cultural sensitivity workshops were in order for these woman as well as the cease and desist. These women might need to learn some things about themselves before they try to help others...

Just my opinion/rant...

enigma_AKA

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Rudey
I figure this. I figure that every group of friends interacts differently. It's the intent that bothers me or doesn't bother me. If I knew that Chaldean and the person he won the "Award" from, and it didn't seem like the guy had bad intentions, I wouldn't flip out over it. I mean yeah I'd think it's ignorant, but I wouldn't think it was worth more of my time than that.

I constantly hear people talk about cars that are "Riced" up, people using the phrase "Don't Jew me", television shows with black actors saying to white actors "You're so white", or referring to things as "Ghetto" or "Gay" or "Retarded" and I'm sure most people do as well. And before you say it, it's not just on TV. I've had my friends make fun of other guys because they can't dance and say they were "So white". Most people don't put it on ABC news anytime they hear something like that.

-Rudey

Racial insensitivity isn't always about bad intentions. This is because you can't prove someone's intent, you can only observe the outcome, and people don't always THINK.

It's your choice to not take such things seriously and not to voice a concern. However, if you DID take it seriously and voice a concern to avoid a slippery slope effect, you'd be well within your right. You aren't socially obligated to ignore such things in an attempt to keep the peace and not ruffle any feathers. People should always challenge each other and ourselves to be socially conscious and to understand how common phrases like "he Gyped me" are rooted in racial, ethnic, and/or cultural insensitivity.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by Rudey
It's the intent that bothers me or doesn't bother me. If I knew that Chaldean and the person he won the "Award" from, and it didn't seem like the guy had bad intentions, I wouldn't flip out over it. I mean yeah I'd think it's ignorant, but I wouldn't think it was worth more of my time than that.

Originally posted by DSTCHAOS
Racial insensitivity isn't always about bad intentions. This is because you can't prove someone's intent, you can only observe the outcome, and people don't always THINK.

I appreciate what you're both saying, and I think you're both on to something. While I may not get bent out of shape over an insensitive or offensive comment if it is clear that no offense was meant, it's still is worth saying something, I think.

A collegue and I used to frequent a particular Mexican restaurant. One day, we noticed among the many banners and signs in there one with the word "Kike!" in very large letters. While neither my friend nor I are Jews, we still had a "what the . . . ?" moment. As we were paying, we asked the Mexican-born manager, who saw us in there frequently, about the sign. With a big smile, he said "Oh yes, Kike (kee-kay) is a great football player." Made perfect sense. We said "cool," but then we told him what else the word means. He had no idea. When we came back a few days later, the sign was gone.

In that case, it was a matter of honest ignorance -- he didn't know what that word used in an American context meant. I think he was glad to be told so that he wouldn't offend customers, and I think he appreciated that we told him in a way that showed we were sure he meant no harm and would want to know.

I've given people the benefit of the doubt quite a few times by saying "I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it, but have you thought about how someone else might feel about what you just said."

[ilikehazing]

Hey guys lets be sensitive to each others feelings!

[CutiePie2000]

The entire situation is a hot mess that needs to be filed under, "What the h*ll were you thinking?".

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
I appreciate what you're both saying, and I think you're both on to something. While I may not get bent out of shape over an insensitive or offensive comment if it is clear that no offense was meant, it's still is worth saying something, I think.

A collegue and I used to frequent a particular Mexican restaurant. One day, we noticed among the many banners and signs in there one with the word "Kike!" in very large letters. While neither my friend nor I are Jews, we still had a "what the . . . ?" moment. As we were paying, we asked the Mexican-born manager, who saw us in there frequently, about the sign. With a big smile, he said "Oh yes, Kike (kee-kay) is a great football player." Made perfect sense. We said "cool," but then we told him what else the word means. He had no idea. When we came back a few days later, the sign was gone.

In that case, it was a matter of honest ignorance -- he didn't know what that word used in an American context meant. I think he was glad to be told so that he wouldn't offend customers, and I think he appreciated that we told him in a way that showed we were sure he meant no harm and would want to know.

I've given people the benefit of the doubt quite a few times by saying "I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it, but have you thought about how someone else might feel about what you just said."

That's an excellent example, thanks. That speaks to cultural differences.

However, within a larger American context (with the assumption that there's a such thing as American culture that most of us have assimilated into) people usually have a general idea of what things could be insensitive. Sometimes people honestly don't care and are protesting against the social demand for political correctness.

An example of this is after the last election there's a local coffee shop that had a "post your caption" competition. The manager had posted a caption of Condoleeza Rice smiling and shaking Bush's hand. The caption read something to the effect of "Rice is so glad that Bush has rescued her from the sharecropper's field." I do not recall if the terms "massa" or "plantation" were in there. Now, I told the clerks that I was offended because of the racial and social class assumptions embedded in that caption. Not to mention the political overtones that could alienate a large % of that company's consumers. The next day the caption competition had disappeared.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by ilikehazing
Hey guys lets be sensitive to each others feelings!

Let's start by not calling a room full of women AND men "guys."

[teena]

Originally posted by DSTCHAOS
Your daddy.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
I appreciate what you're both saying, and I think you're both on to something. While I may not get bent out of shape over an insensitive or offensive comment if it is clear that no offense was meant, it's still is worth saying something, I think.

A collegue and I used to frequent a particular Mexican restaurant. One day, we noticed among the many banners and signs in there one with the word "Kike!" in very large letters. While neither my friend nor I are Jews, we still had a "what the . . . ?" moment. As we were paying, we asked the Mexican-born manager, who saw us in there frequently, about the sign. With a big smile, he said "Oh yes, Kike (kee-kay) is a great football player." Made perfect sense. We said "cool," but then we told him what else the word means. He had no idea. When we came back a few days later, the sign was gone.

In that case, it was a matter of honest ignorance -- he didn't know what that word used in an American context meant. I think he was glad to be told so that he wouldn't offend customers, and I think he appreciated that we told him in a way that showed we were sure he meant no harm and would want to know.

I've given people the benefit of the doubt quite a few times by saying "I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it, but have you thought about how someone else might feel about what you just said."

So why aren't there protests daily when white guys that can't dance are called so white? That's just one example. Why doesn't it make the news?

-Rudey

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Rudey
So why aren't there protests daily when white guys that can't dance are called so white? That's just one example. Why doesn't it make the news?

-Rudey

Someone tell Rudey we have already addressed such questions in this thread.

[lil_sunshine]

Originally posted by Rudey
So why aren't there protests daily when white guys that can't dance are called so white? That's just one example. Why doesn't it make the news?

-Rudey

Because it's a well known fact among Earthlings that some Caucasians CAN'T DANCE!!!!!!!!! Can you dance, Rudey?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by lil_sunshine
Because it's a well known fact among Earthlings that some Caucasians CAN'T DANCE!!!!!!!!! Can you dance, Rudey?

I'm going to assume you're joking.