Sigma Chi (Harvard) Apologizes for Party Theme

[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

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I don't think that this is okay, but I see where the brothers would have very little perspective on why this is offensive. The way European settlement of North America is taught in the history books glorifies the conquistadors and their ilk, and largely glosses over the genocide part. This is the same reason we continue to have Columbus Day in spite of its hurtful associations for the Native American population.

Someone in the article compares it to a "Jews/Nazis" party, but it is not an apt comparison as long as we continue to glorify the settlers. A better comparison would be a "corporate tycoons" party, I think.

Again, not excusing the brothers, but this is really a much larger problem with American society and our collective refusal to acknowledge the facts of colonization.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Someone in the article compares it to a "Jews/Nazis" party, but it is not an apt comparison as long as we continue to glorify the settlers.

The main difference is that one of those genocides happened and one didn't.

But thats another story for another day.

[XAntoftheSkyX]

...Does this mean an end to Librarians and Barbarians too?

[knight_shadow]

[DTD Alum]

I'm not gonna lie, I did laugh out loud when I read the title of the party. Not saying it's right but it's the first "Bros and Hos" themed party that I found genuinely witty and original.

[Kevin]

I'm sure some Navajo somewhere committed suicide over this. And those poor Conquistadors.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I'm sure some Navajo somewhere committed suicide over this. And those poor Conquistadors.

Idiocy is best corrected at the onset. When idiots are allowed to take their seemingly humorous thoughts to actions with no correction, people then wonder how they got to the point of "Black face" at fraternity parties.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I'm sure some Navajo somewhere committed suicide over this. And those poor Conquistadors.

During the period from 1979-1992, suicide rates for Native Americans (a category that includes American Indians and Alaska Natives) were about 1.5 times the national rates-a disproportionate number of suicides (64%) were among young male Native Americans between 15-24 years of age.

In 1998, suicides among European Americans accounted for 84% of all youth suicides, 61% male and 23% female. However, the suicide rate for Native Americans was 19.3 per 100,000, much higher than the overall rate (8.5 per 100,000).

"Among American Indians/Alaska Natives ages 15- to 34-years, suicide is the second leading cause of death."

One incident doesn't truly stand alone.

[DrPhil]

Yes, Native Americans have higher rates of suicide and substance abuse and the structural correlates go above and beyond "being offended" by things like mascots and negative depictions of Native Americans. So, people who are simplistically looking for outcomes based on offended people and hurt feelings will not understand what is embedded in something like "Conquistadors and Navajos." That also applies to gendered images.

[33girl]

Conquistador your stallion stands
In need of company
And like some angel's haloed brow
You reek of purity

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I'm sure some Navajo somewhere committed suicide over this. And those poor Conquistadors.

Well, the Conquistadors probably weren't traumatized, but the Conquistabros? For sure!

[Low C Sharp]

Funny, last time I read about a party controversy at Harvard, it was because a non-Greek organization threw a kegger-themed party called "Harvard State University." I thought that was hilarious, but it was condemned as elitist and making fun of public school students blah blah blah. The local state university's own students refer to it affectionately as Zoo-Mass, so Harvard students weren't the only ones who had the impression that public schools party harder.
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