Sigma Chi (Harvard) Apologizes for Party Theme

[pshsx1]

A fraternity and sorority here hosted Golf Pros and Tennis Hoes at the start of the year. The school finally slammed down on that and all 'official' party themes have to run by the Dean.

I'm glad that these 'Bros and Hoes' parties will finally be dying.

I did giggle at conquistabros, though. :P

[lucgreek]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

The school finally slammed down on that and all 'official' party themes have to run by the Dean.

Wow, that sounds awful. Golf Pros and Tennis Hoes isn't even that bad of a theme.

I can understand cracking down on these mixers if people come in obvious offensive attire (black face), but come on. I see way more offensive costumes on Halloween than I ever do at mixers, but Halloween doesn't get a crack down.

[southbymidwest]

Originally Posted by lucgreek

I can understand cracking down on these mixers if people come in obvious offensive attire (black face), but come on. I see way more offensive costumes on Halloween than I ever do at mixers, but Halloween doesn't get a crack down.

Because individuals make their own questionable Halloween choices. Not the same as a nationally recognized fraternity/sorority chapter making/endorsing/whatever you want to call it a questionable choice.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

The school finally slammed down on that and all 'official' party themes have to run by the Dean.

My alma mater requires all official Greek events to be approved in advance by the Greek life advisor. On top of that, my organization (as well as a few others) have to get approval from I/HQ. I never saw it as a big deal, even as an undergrad.

Originally Posted by lucgreek

Wow, that sounds awful. Golf Pros and Tennis Hoes isn't even that bad of a theme.

I can understand cracking down on these mixers if people come in obvious offensive attire (black face), but come on. I see way more offensive costumes on Halloween than I ever do at mixers, but Halloween doesn't get a crack down.

Ditto what southbymidwest said. Individuals wearing costumes do not represent GLOs and universities.

I know that teenagers aren't always the most creative individuals, but I find it hard to believe that 1) they're completely unaware of why themes like this are unacceptable and 2) no one (graduating seniors, advisors, etc) can help them come up with better ideas.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

. . . I know that teenagers aren't always the most creative individuals, but I find it hard to believe that 1) they're completely unaware of why themes like this are unacceptable and 2) no one (graduating seniors, advisors, etc) can help them come up with better ideas.

^^^ I agree.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

My alma mater requires all official Greek events to be approved in advance by the Greek life advisor. On top of that, my organization (as well as a few others) have to get approval from I/HQ. I never saw it as a big deal, even as an undergrad.

Even if all official Greek events have to be approved, you know that "Golf Pros and Tennis Hoes will get submitted as "Fun Golf Party with Iced Tea and Lemonade, yay!!!1!". .. But will obviously be referred to as a Bros and Hoes party behind the scenes.

[/QUOTE]Ditto what southbymidwest said. Individuals wearing costumes do not represent GLOs and universities.[/QUOTE]

You'd be surprised.. All it takes is one complaint...

I know of a chapter who was in huge trouble with their GLO because a member at a Halloween party dressed as a (pretty funny) African American who's famous, and they painted their face black. One person was offended, they reported it to the school, the national organization caught wind of it, and the whole chapter was in trouble for it.


While I agree that the names of these parties are more offensive to women, its not the names that make these parties continue.. Its the girls that are willing to dress like sluts. And as long as that happens, guys will continue to have "hoes" somehow included in the name.

When I was in college, one fraternity had a Pimps and Hoes party. My friend and I decided that we'd go, but we bought hats and canes, made our own bling, and showed up as pimps. Guys complained that we "cheated"..

Everyone can choose what they wear, regardless of what the theme is.. And if girls want to dress like hoes, they will.. And if they want to avoid that, they'll use their heads and find a way around it.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Even if all official Greek events have to be approved, you know that "Golf Pros and Tennis Hoes will get submitted as "Fun Golf Party with Iced Tea and Lemonade, yay!!!1!". .. But will obviously be referred to as a Bros and Hoes party behind the scenes.

I'm obviously thinking from a non-IFC/NPC POV, so my idea of a party is different. With us, we host our events at a club (or similar location) and use quarter fliers to promote them. We have to get the fliers approved before printing, and if the "wrong" flyer shows up after a party is approved, we get put on social suspension (school and GLO). That's enough incentive to stay away from juvenile names.

You'd be surprised.. All it takes is one complaint...

I know of a chapter who was in huge trouble with their GLO because a member at a Halloween party dressed as a (pretty funny) African American who's famous, and they painted their face black. One person was offended, they reported it to the school, the national organization caught wind of it, and the whole chapter was in trouble for it.

That NHQ reacted poorly.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I'm obviously thinking from a non-IFC/NPC POV, so my idea of a party is different. With us, we host our events at a club (or similar location) and use quarter fliers to promote them. We have to get the fliers approved before printing, and if the "wrong" flyer shows up after a party is approved, we get put on social suspension (school and GLO). That's enough incentive to stay away from juvenile names.

Ok, I'll give you this. It's a different situation than a typical party at a fraternity house.

That NHQ reacted poorly.

No doubt. But to assume that a chapter is exempt from punishment because of the actions of one person is ridiculous... especially in this day and age.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

No doubt. But to assume that a chapter is exempt from punishment because of the actions of one person is ridiculous... especially in this day and age.

No -- for an organization to hold an entire chapter accountable for the (non-Greek related) actions of one of its members is ridiculous in this day and age.

Our GLOs are filled with people from all different backgrounds and grown men and women (even if their actions say otherwise). Assuming that 1) the chapter knew what said member was planning on doing and 2) thinking that an 18-year-old could stop a, say, 20-year-old from doing what s/he wants to do is ridiculous.

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I'm obviously thinking from a non-IFC/NPC POV, so my idea of a party is different. With us, we host our events at a club (or similar location) and use quarter fliers to promote them. We have to get the fliers approved before printing, and if the "wrong" flyer shows up after a party is approved, we get put on social suspension (school and GLO). That's enough incentive to stay away from juvenile names.

Ditto. THe fliers and party names have to get approved by the school.

Unofficial parties can have whatever name they want to have (if any).

[agzg]

Originally Posted by lucgreek

Wow, that sounds awful. Golf Pros and Tennis Hoes isn't even that bad of a theme.

I can understand cracking down on these mixers if people come in obvious offensive attire (black face), but come on. I see way more offensive costumes on Halloween than I ever do at mixers, but Halloween doesn't get a crack down.

The problem with all these bros and hoes themed parties, in my opinion, is that it glorifies the fraternity while denegrating the sorority. I don't remember my sorority ever explicitly planning a "and hoes" type mixer, but we made plenty of questionable decisions in themes that encouraged women to show up skantily clad.

I mean, sure, it was "our decision," but really it was the decision of the social chair. "Show up dressed to match this theme, or don't show up at all."

[33girl]

I have to say, A for originality on a theme that's been done to death (conquistabros? come on, that's funny), but F for going with such an old and tired theme to begin with.

I suggest "cougars and boytoys" for the next one. All the girls have to be dressed head to toe in animal print clothing from Cache.

And as lucgreek said...I see girls at bars in clothing just as scanty as at any mixer, and they don't need a theme to do it. It doesn't say what kind of ho you have to be. I mean, you can be a sweatpants ho. The only way to stop these kinds of parties is to reduce them to absurdity.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It doesn't say what kind of ho you have to be. I mean, you can be a sweatpants ho.

Omg