Should Greek Orgs Speak Up or Stay Silent?

[carnation]

I feel exactly like FSUZeta on this.

I was intrigued to see that one of the angriest people about Lea Thomas competing was my lesbian former high school gym teacher and her wife.

[navane]

I will say this -- as a regional alumnae supervisor, I received an onslaught of angry phone calls, emails and texts after our statement was released. The members were downright incensed that the org made a statement. I, too, have a couple of members who are considering resignation over it.

As andthen pointed out, it's a no win situation. As *winter* said, "Reproductive rights is a VERY emotional issue for women. People on both sides of the issue often have strong feelings for personal reasons." This is one of the topics that is deeply personal and adherents on either side are highly unlikely to budge as both believe they are morally right. If your org wasn't expressly formed to be a political vehicle, then tread carefully. Picking a side will lose half of your audience and create a lot of damage, as I am now seeing myself.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by GoldBows

We share letters shadokat, and I'm totally in agreement. To my fellow NPC sisters in this thread who want their organizations to take milquetoast stances on this issue and others - did you or did you not join sororities that actively seek to empower and uplift young women? As young women's rights are systematically destroyed, wouldn't it be extremely hypocritical of those organizations to stay silent? I would be disgusted if my country's Supreme Court rescinded R v. Morgentaler (our version of Roe v. Wade) and my sorority didn't make a statement about it in support of our Canadian sisters.

So what you’re basically saying is all your sisters who don’t agree with abortion being legal can go shit in their hat? Not everyone agrees that it is “empowering” or “uplifting.”

There was a discussion on Reddit that women should go on strike the way they did in Iceland over unequal pay. The difference with that is I don’t know of any women who are in favor of being paid less than a man for the same job, but I know plenty of women who are in favor of Roe being overturned. This whole thing is turning into a men vs women thing and that’s SO far off the mark. There are lots and lots of pro-Roe men and lots and lots of anti-Roe women.

[GoldBows]

Originally Posted by 33girl

So what you’re basically saying is all your sisters who don’t agree with abortion being legal can go shit in their hat?

Absolutely! YITS <3

[33girl]

Wow, I don’t know if you’re trying to be funny, but that kind of isn’t.

[GoldBows]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Wow, I don’t know if you’re trying to be funny, but that kind of isn’t.

I don't find it funny that while so many women are going to die because they're not able to have a lifesaving medical procedure, the overwhelming sentiment in this thread is "let's just play nice".

[andthen]

Originally Posted by GoldBows

I don't find it funny that while so many women are going to die because they're not able to have a lifesaving medical procedure, the overwhelming sentiment in this thread is "let's just play nice".

I have to respectfully disagree with your interpretation. Both women and men are upset and concerned over the recent supreme court ruling, where others are celebrating this "victory" that SCOTUS has given them. There are many people on both sides out there protesting some of them are my sorority sisters who work in the reproductive space. The main difference is people aren't out there carrying posters saying ABC is pro-life or XYZ is pro-choice.

As Navane even mentioned there's been a lot of backlash she's encountered because her org sort of "dipped their toe in this space"

Unfortunately there's just been a lot of polarizing political issues that other orgs had inadvertently stepped into which caused a lot of hurt feelings within other GLOs as well.

If you want to support a political cause then donate or join a PAC not a sorority.

[TLLK]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Ours was one of supporting all our members - those celebrating this decision and those hurting from it. I think that's the approprite response.

Agreed. This was the right message to send to our members.

[honeychile]

I saw this posted in another forum. I don't feel that I can rightfully quote it directly, but I'll try to paraphrase. Due to fraternal organizations each having a 501c7 social clubs designation, they stand to lose this status - and their non-profit status - should they wander into the political agenda arena.

Those GLOs who are keeping quiet may be doing so to protect their organizations' status.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I saw this posted in another forum. I don't feel that I can rightfully quote it directly, but I'll try to paraphrase. Due to fraternal organizations each having a 501c7 social clubs designation, they stand to lose this status - and their non-profit status - should they wander into the political agenda arena.

Those GLOs who are keeping quiet may be doing so to protect their organizations' status.

The fact that each of the three NPHC groups that I checked (AKA, DST, & APhiA) are all 501(c)7 seems to indicate that this has been worked around.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by naraht

Alpha Epsilon Pi

*cough*

[naraht]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

*cough*

*sorry*.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by carnation

I think the Greek orgs should keep their damn mouths shut on all political issues. People have widely varying opinions and there is no way a GLO will benefit from making a grand pronouncement like, as one did: "we recognize that all members will have a different stand, however, here is ours" (insert a big mistake).

How DARE an organization speak for all its members?

YES!! EXACTLY!!
There will be plenty of things we can agree on. Let's not go into politics!

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by GoldBows

We share letters shadokat, and I'm totally in agreement. To my fellow NPC sisters in this thread who want their organizations to take milquetoast stances on this issue and others - did you or did you not join sororities that actively seek to empower and uplift young women? As young women's rights are systematically destroyed, wouldn't it be extremely hypocritical of those organizations to stay silent? I would be disgusted if my country's Supreme Court rescinded R v. Morgentaler (our version of Roe v. Wade) and my sorority didn't make a statement about it in support of our Canadian sisters.

GoldBows, I absolutely support your right to say what you wish.
GoldBows, I absolutely disagree with you.

[zetamae]

New here so my opinion may not matter but I actually am OK with the canned we respect sisters on both sides of the argument and we aren't in the business of politics responses. It is also very disappointing to see actives like the Chi O one who in response to their statement took to social media spilling all their secrets.