Ugliest/Most Horrible Paraphenalia you've ever seen?

[PiAlphaGammaFM]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Well, I think this deserves a mention. This is from Phi Mu's official collection, and I've sent a letter asking that it be discontinued immediately.

I'm not sure what you dont like about this shirt..... I don't see anything terribly wrong with it, what am i missing?

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by PiAlphaGammaFM

I'm not sure what you dont like about this shirt..... I don't see anything terribly wrong with it, what am i missing?

Ummm...you don't see anything wrong with blackfacing their mascot and calling him "homeboy"?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Ummm...you don't see anything wrong with blackfacing their mascot and calling him "homeboy"?

I like how they gave him a 5-pointed crown for good measure.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I like how they gave him a 5-pointed crown for good measure.

Actually, it's an 8 point crown. Each of the three in the front have one directly behind that you wouldn't be able to see. That's why ASA's badge confused me at first when they told the NM that it's a 4 point crown...the 4th point is directly behind the middle point.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Actually, it's an 8 point crown. Each of the three in the front have one directly behind that you wouldn't be able to see. That's why ASA's badge confused me at first when they told the NM that it's a 4 point crown...the 4th point is directly behind the middle point.

True, but it's also a 5-point crown in the same way that ZTA's official symbol is a 5-point crown.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

^^^ True, but it's also a 5-point crown in the same way that Zeta's official symbol is a 5-point crown.

I've always wondered about that...I thought it was usually depicted more tiara-style which wouldn't have additional points out of view.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I've always wondered about that...I thought it was usually depicted more tiara-style which wouldn't have additional points out of view.

I imagine it's more of a semantics thing -- does 4/5 points mean 4/5 points total or 4/5 points visible. To ASA, it means 4 points total, with one being hidden. But to ZTA, I assume it means 5 points visible. Per the ZTA website:

Crown – The five-pointed Crown is an official symbol of the Fraternity. The significance of the five points is revealed to each member upon her Initiation. Many examples of crown artwork can be found within ZTA, and all are acceptable as long as the crown contains exactly five points.

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Well, I was more concerned about the OTHER use of the 5-point crown.

Ah. I guess since I was on GC, I went for the Greek reference first, but you're exactly right.

Well, then, lets just say there are layers of inappropriateness going on here.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

True, but it's also a 5-point crown in the same way that ZTA's official symbol is a 5-point crown.

Well, I was more concerned about the OTHER use of the 5-point crown.

[AlphaFrog]

There doesn't seem to be an "official" version, and even their website seems to vary between five total points and five visible points. Huh.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Ummm...you don't see anything wrong with blackfacing their mascot and calling him "homeboy"?

Only people who know what the mascot normally looks like will know that it is blackface. I am not one of those people. I too was unsure what was so offensive about the tshirt...mascot + "homeboy" is not the dumbest thing I have seen on tshirts, including things posted in the recruitment pictures thread. I figured that was for the members of whichever GLO to battle out since my nonmember opinion means nothing.

So, yeah, now that I know what it is and whose it is, I feel some kind of way about this being part of Phi Mu's OFFICIAL collection. Phi Mu has some serious explaining to do...and I am being polite.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Only people who know what the mascot normally looks like will know that it is blackface. I am not one of those people. I too was unsure what was so offensive about the tshirt...mascot + "homeboy" is not the dumbest thing I have seen on tshirts, including things posted in the recruitment pictures threads. I figured that was for the members of whichever GLO to battle out since my nonmember opinion means nothing.

So, yeah, now that I know what it is and whose it is, I feel some kind of way about this being part of Phi Mu's OFFICIAL collection. Phi Mu has some serious explaining to do...and I am being polite.

I've sent e-mails to a bunch of higher-ups, but it's really hard to explain why this is offensive to anyone who can't immediately see that it's offensive (given knowledge of Phi Mu and our mascot).

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I've sent e-mails to a bunch of higher-ups, but it's really hard to explain why this is offensive to anyone who can't immediately see that it's offensive (given knowledge of Phi Mu and our mascot).

Serious questions and I am not trying to be a smartass:

Since this is an official "representation" of Phi Mu, do you see an issue with posting the picture and announcing this to GC? Are you trying to essentially shame the higher ups into understanding what is so offensive?

And why don't the higher ups understand why blackfacing the mascot would be offensive with and without the however-many-crowns-homeboy?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

And why don't the higher ups understand why blackfacing the mascot would be offensive with and without the however-many-crowns-homeboy?

I will admit that the blackface didn't immediately jump out at me. My first thought with the crown and the style of the design was that it resembled a brass rubbing, where everything is black except the outline:

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I will admit that the blackface didn't immediately jump out at me. My first thought with the crown and the style of the design was that it resembled a brass rubbing, where everything is black except the outline:

I would have taken it that way too, except the "homeboy" thing and you could argue some of the features are exaggerated.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I will admit that the blackface didn't immediately jump out at me. My first thought with the crown and the style of the design was that it resembled a brass rubbing, where everything is black except the outline:

Same here. I kept staring at the photo and concluded that the only issue was the "homeboy."

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I would have taken it that way too, except the "homeboy" thing and you could argue some of the features are exaggerated.

I wonder if the Phi Mu representatives will say that it was mere coincidence--brass rubbing and "homeboy." It was an unintended consequence.

Originally Posted by PiAlphaGammaFM

would you feel different if the same design was in pink rather than black?

It would be a silly pink "mascot is my homeboy" shirt rather than a seemingly blackface "mascot is my homeboy" shirt. That would make it dumb rather than racially and ethnically offensive.

Originally Posted by PiAlphaGammaFM

i dont think its really worth getting so worked up over, but what do i know? *shrug*

You are kind of new to posting on Greekchat. There are two things that grate GCers' nerves:

1. Speaking for a council/conference and GLO other than your own

2. Responding to social and political discussions with "don't get worked up over this."