Sexual orientation and MS

[JonoBN41]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Until our nationals make some kind of change to how we, as students, run our chapters.......we can let in whomever we want.

In my fraternity, our "nationals" doesn't make the rules - we do. In 2002 we expanded our anti-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

It was proposed by undergraduates, promoted by undergraduates, submitted by undergraduates, and unanimously approved by the undergraduates.

We think for ourselves, and yes, we can let in whomever we want.

[UGAalum94]

And when the national organization embraces a policy that a chapter doesn't like, the chapter can leave the organization if it's actually a matter of principle worth taking a stand about, or they can quietly ignore the policy, telling themselves that "there just aren't any XYZ quality guys who are ________ at this school" and no one will be able to prove otherwise.

They've been doing it with other groups for years.

If an national group has too many membership policies that too many chapters are ignoring, it makes you question how strong the national group is. And if it turns out that the strength lies primarily in the chapters who ignore the policies, the national organization may find itself in a strange position, losing several of its strongest chapters over an issue about which the policies were meaningless at best. (Chapters likely to follow the policy aren't likely to need it; the ones more in need will never follow.)

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by JonoBN41

In my fraternity, our "nationals" doesn't make the rules - we do. In 2002 we expanded our anti-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

It was proposed by undergraduates, promoted by undergraduates, submitted by undergraduates, and unanimously approved by the undergraduates.

We think for ourselves, and yes, we can let in whomever we want.

Our governing body is the ultimate decision maker in what happens in our fraternity.

Congratulations. We "think for ourselves" also.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by JonoBN41

In my fraternity, our "nationals" doesn't make the rules - we do. In 2002 we expanded our anti-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

It was proposed by undergraduates, promoted by undergraduates, submitted by undergraduates, and unanimously approved by the undergraduates.

We think for ourselves, and yes, we can let in whomever we want.

That's all well and good. It's just that when any member can deny membership to any person by writing "no" on a little piece of paper and turning it in anonymously, such anti discrimination clauses really aren't worth the paper they're written on or the ink they're written with.

Going around trumpeting how our organizations are so tolerant of this or that group doesn't really mean much. Do you think that because Sigma Nu voted to integrate back in the late 60's that all chapters are now racially diverse?

The bottom line, I think is that we are all the masters of our own chapters. It is none of our business who Texas at SAE will initiate or not. Personally, I really don't care.

As for my chapter, I really, honestly don't know whether or not we'd discriminate based upon sexual orientation. I'm an alum, I don't get a vote. I don't think I would have really cared. In my day, we had several candidates who I'm quite certain were gay -- none ever made it through. None of them ever made it as far as a vote (oddly, they all left school or dropped out of their candidate classes on their own accord). I wonder how things would have turned out..

At any rate, within my own chapter, when it came to membership decisions, I always respected everyone's choice whatever the reason.

That said, when we're talking about membership selection in another chapter or another organization -- who really even cares??? Some of you seem really bothered by this. Why would you want to ask an organization to accept members when other members don't to be forced to do so?

That's just not how (most) fraternities and sororities work folks. We're selective -- sometimes for some pretty absurd reasons. I figure that sexual orientation will be a big deal for some and not for others. What another organization/chapter does is really none of my concern.