University fo Okahoma-Sigma Alpha Epsilon-Racial Chant

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

I thank me for writing them too.

Lol jk. Fran has posted a follow up. Would post the link but I'm currently mobile.

I also thank you for writing and sharing your posts. You have a powerful way with words.

Since you're mobile, I'll share the link to Fran's follow up blog from today:

http://www.franbecque.com/2015/03/10/march-10/

I have some thoughts about this story and both your posts and Fran's, but I'm trying to formulate them beyond blurting out "racist assholes!" in regards to the chapter. I will post later once I get it somewhat together.

[ComradesTrue]

Fran's follow up is on her home page:
http://www.franbecque.com

From the article:

and I know some of those mothers (and fathers, too. I am not discounting them, but as I said, I was writing it from the perspective of a mother) are this morning wondering what they did and what they could have done differently.

Sen: I appreciate your comments. As white people we are responsible for our own call to action, and sometimes with our actions we are getting it right, but unfortunately most of the time we aren't.

Fran: We can do more as mothers. Much more.

My parents were both raised in the South by fathers who were racist. One man openly used the “n” word until the day he died. The other- ironically a minister- never used that word but never had to. His words, thoughts and actions portrayed anyone of color as less educated, less moral, and of less value and thus it was clear exactly where his heart was.

To my parents' credit they grew into adults who openly rejected those views. They worked very hard to show my brother and I that we are to love all people, and that all people are equal in the eyes of God and should therefore be equal in eyes of man, etc., etc. I grew up watching my parents embrace all my friends, male and female, with no difference shown to those of a different race. They had effectively broken the pattern of racism.

Or had they?

As they navigated the waters of raising children to have a very different mindset than what they had been taught to have, they made one huge mistake. They focused 100% of their teaching on treating others as equals, and that we aren’t different because “we all bleed red.” It was the “kum ba yah” approach to race relations. They truly believed they were doing the right thing by taking this approach.

But at no time did they ever mention lynchings. Bombs in churches were omitted too. Police brutality against people of color? Nope, never heard that message. All white juries sentencing black men to death with no evidence? That was never discussed either. Even though (or maybe because?) they had seen these things first hand, these historical facts, along with scores of other pieces of history, were never taught to me.

And don’t kid yourself that my 1980s white-fight suburban Texas public education system covered any of that. We were lucky to get 5 minutes on Rosa Parks and maybe a day of MLK. The Civil Rights Era was covered in much the same manner as the women’s right to vote… people wanted equality, a few said no, then boom- the government stepped in and now we are all happy.

When you grow up in white-flight suburbia you aren’t witnessing the effects of racism either, and there are but a few people of color in your entire school.

Therefore, I was well into adulthood before fully grasping the true ugliness of our history, understanding what is meant by privilege, and questioning my parents on why they had sanitized race relations. I asked around. Virtually all of my white friends had the same account: grandparents who were racists, parents who grew up in the Civil Rights Era, and they being raised to love but without any of the horrid, horrid details of what it is like to grow up as a person of color in the country.

I think many of today's NPC/NIC GLOs have kids with similar stories. Thus the racist themed events, but their decries that they weren't being racist at all. Thus, bystanders staying quiet while horrific words are chanted.

Therefore, as white people, we have to do a MUCH better job of educating our youth on our ugly history. We are failing miserably at this, and that includes many well-intentioned individuals. Highlighting the racial bias that has existed, and continues to exist, won’t make a generation of kids with racial bias. Studies prove otherwise. In fact, they will grow up to have more compassion and understanding for those around them and better recognize the position of influence they are in.

[rockwallgreek]

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hispanic and Black classmates were the norm when I went through school, graduating in 1972. So we're Asians, actually. But when I had a crush on an Asian guy in HS, my parents went ballistic! So, racial prejudice goes many ways. I don't like it and in my kids world, as an Air Force family, we lived and worked with people who followed the same rules and regulations and had the same opportunities, regardless of their race. I'm not going to claim to be colorblind, as that U.S. a hot button, but I gave spent a lot of my 61 years in situations where color blindness was the norm.
Today, almost 41 years after my Initiation, after almost 30 years as a volunteer on the International level, and with 4 daughters who are also sisters, I truly wonder why we are here. Why does the Greek system continue down the path of just killing itself? Why does the "we've always done it this way" attitude prevail? Why do alumnae continue to say they WERE an XYZ? Why do alumnae continue to support these stereotypes? I wonder if I can make a difference in the minds of the collegians I work with.
It's a very sad day for the overall Greek System.

[banditone]

Originally Posted by SOM

Why would that be "disgusting"? This has nothing to do with National. Generally 5 years is the starting point. By then everyone connected to issue/matter is gone and a new, clean start can be done. I do agree with you
about the alumni. I have had a rather strong suspicion that there sadly is an alumni involved somewhere in this matter. And not in any sort of a good way. One can only hope that at least one of the several investigations can and does find the true root cause to this event, this matter and pulls it out and gets ride of it for good. From what I have seen and heard, National will not stop at an Alumni no matter who it is. And Brother Pickens is from the other Oklahoma school. Have to wonder if he is at all too happy with the new photo going around about them.

You read that sentence wrong. I didn't mean as disgusting as it is they will be back; I meant as disgusting as that occurrence/song/video in that instance is.

[clemsongirl]

The two students who led the singing of the racist chant have been expelled from OU-see here

[AZTheta]

An article from Inside Higher Ed:

""The Greek letter system is talked about as though it's full of good, upstanding young gentleman and then there's these bad apples that are unique," Hughey said. "While that may be true at some chapters, it turns the conversation into a matter of good versus bad, and ignores all the ugly that surrounds the whole system."

[lake]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

The two students who led the singing of the racist chant have been expelled from OU-see here

I'm glad there are going to be consequences for these students. I was embarrassed to hear Tri Delta(s) were involved. I do have a question though: It was mentioned above about how free speech is all about the government not limiting your speech, blah blah blah. But in this case, the president of this university is acting on behalf of a state university, so isn't that, in essence, the government interfering with these students' right to free speech?

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by KDMafia

However, only one person video taped that and turned it in.

I have seen 2 or maybe 3 different versions of the video, not just 1. In one video, you can also see a girl in a blue dress trying to take video and her date puts his hand over her phone to stop her. I think (perhaps it is hope) that many of the girls on that bus were shocked and upset.

[amanda6035]

FYI, I left a donation for Howard and got a email response to a comment I left from the organizer:

Hi Amanda,

Thanks so much for your support! I just spoke with Howard last night and he and his wife are in great spirits. The fraternity is continuing to pay him his salary for a period of time so he will not have to make any drastic life changes. Also, some good news is that he has had a couple of job offers already!

Thanks again,

Blake

[naraht]

I'm in what is approaching an edit war on Wikipedia over a question involving this chapter.

Has anyone seen anything to indicate that the current status *within* of the SAE chapter at OU (Oklahoma Kappa) is any different than any other chapter which has been declared inactive, for example Illinois Beta at U of Chicago which was declared inactive in 1941.

For example, I haven't seen anything indicating that if SAE returns to the school that it would be as a new charter rather than a reactivation (Say as Oklahoma Pi) (I simply don't understand how the greek letters as part of SAE chapter names are assigned).

To me, whether or not OU President Boren will allow SAE back during his time in doesn't affect the status of the charter, inactive is inactive.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by naraht

I'm in what is approaching an edit war on Wikipedia over a question involving this chapter.

Has anyone seen anything to indicate that the current status *within* of the SAE chapter at OU (Oklahoma Kappa) is any different than any other chapter which has been declared inactive, for example Illinois Beta at U of Chicago which was declared inactive in 1941.

For example, I haven't seen anything indicating that if SAE returns to the school that it would be as a new charter rather than a reactivation (Say as Oklahoma Pi) (I simply don't understand how the greek letters as part of SAE chapter names are assigned).

To me, whether or not OU President Boren will allow SAE back during his time in doesn't affect the status of the charter, inactive is inactive.

Why is this your responsibility?

[SAEalumnus]

Originally Posted by naraht

Seems *somewhat* broad a brush by the Fraternity. If there is a brother of the chapter who was home for the weekend (I'm talking on an ATM camera in Tulsa while this is going on), then removing his national membership in Sigma Alpha Epsilon doesn't seem right.

Pursuant to our Fraternity Laws, when a charter is revoked, all active members of the chapter are automatically suspended. For most, they are converted to alumni in good standing after they graduate. Those who directly caused the loss of the charter are frequently expelled.

In this case, the charter is already gone effective Sunday night, so all active members are now suspended. A panel of alumni will now be convened as a trial board to determine who should be expelled. In the meantime, as mentioned, the university has already expelled two students involved in the video. We can likely expect to hear more from both the national fraternity and the university as their respective investigations progress.

I can't even begin to express how livid the fraternity is nation-wide at the behavior of these manchildren. Their behavior is so diametrically opposed to what SAE represents as to make one wonder how those individuals were ever admitted to membership to begin with. To time this with our Founders Day was just an extra slap in the face.

[thetalady]

One of the young men expelled is identified as Parker Rice, recent graduate of Jesuit Prep, a prestigious private school in Dallas. They are so proud...

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by thetalady

I have seen 2 or maybe 3 different versions of the video, not just 1. In one video, you can also see a girl in a blue dress trying to take video and her date puts his hand over her phone to stop her. I think (perhaps it is hope) that many of the girls on that bus were shocked and upset.

I was just watching a broadcast from Dallas and they said a second video surfaced within the last 24 hours.

Originally Posted by amanda6035

FYI, I left a donation for Howard and got a email response to a comment I left from the organizer:

The fund is over $50,000 at this time. Very nice of everyone as he appears to be one of the biggest victims of irresponsible boys.

Originally Posted by thetalady

One of the young men expelled is identified as Parker Rice, recent graduate of Jesuit Prep, a prestigious private school in Dallas. They are so proud...

Indeed sad. His name has been plastered over social media.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Why is this your responsibility?

It is wikipedia, pages are not owned. In fact due to the rules on Conflict of Interest at Wikipedia, a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon is actually the least appropriate type of person to edit a page about Sigma Alpha Epsilon.