Penn State Chi O Under Investigation

[MaggieXi]

Penn State just posted this statement: http://live.psu.edu/story/63089

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by naraht

Of course that would be different if you were at Queen's University Belfast. (The Irish stereotype *more* controversial and the Mexican/Latin American *less*).

From what I can tell, Sombreros more broadly Latin American in distribution and the Serapes more specifically Mexican

So it's okay as long as you get away with it?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Kevin

So it's okay as long as you get away with it?

No, he's saying that you would face far more than the ISA raising a glass to you.

[kateee]

smh
This is disappointing news. Chi Omega's are classy, refined women. These girls will be taken care of by nationals and I trust my organization to deal with this accordingly. I just wish that it wasn't so big, because my mother is using it as ammo for why I shouldn't join.

[DubaiSis]

I think the best we can take from this is a life lesson for sorority and fraternity members everywhere. Unfortunately, the first take away is don't post things that will get your arse in a vice, when it should be don't be racist. But young girls who may well have gone to very white schools in affluent neighborhoods may be too oblivious to the world around them to even know that this sort of behavior is racist. Not saying this crap is step 1 toward not thinking it. And then you might also work on your chapter diversity so that you will be aware that your actions are hurtful.

It's hard for me to imagine someone growing up in America without knowing any people of Hispanic descent but they may be too oblivious to know that Suzie Sanchez or Rodriguez might be Hispanic. I mean, she doesn't sell drugs at all!

As I see it, this is not a legal issue. It was offensive, but I don't think crosses the line to hate speech. This is a sorority matter and I'm sure Chi Omega will deal with it accordingly.

And kateee, if you are not a sorority member, you should not have sorority letters in your signature line. It is bad form and will not bode well for you in your future rush.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

And kateee, if you are not a sorority member, you should not have sorority letters in your signature line. It is bad form and will not bode well for you in your future rush.

She's a New Member.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by kateee

smh
This is disappointing news. Chi Omega's are classy, refined women. These girls will be taken care of by nationals and I trust my organization to deal with this accordingly. I just wish that it wasn't so big, because my mother is using it as ammo for why I shouldn't join.

Okay, the Sacramento Bee -- yeah, way out California way -- has posted this article, which contains a statement by the president of Chi Omega:

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/06/503...sanctions.html

Excerpt from article:

“By Chi Omega Fraternity

Published: Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 - 4:03 am

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 6, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- The Governing Council of Chi Omega Fraternity placed its Nu Gamma Chapter at Pennsylvania State University on probation effective Monday, due to members portraying inappropriate and untrue ethnic stereotypes at a social function.
Chi Omega's national headquarters staff is working closely with the university and Panhellenic Council on campus to implement corrective educational directives for the chapter.

"I am disappointed in the choices made by our Nu Gamma Chapter members and we regret any pain caused," said Chi Omega's National President Letitia Fulkerson. "We are taking this situation very seriously. Chi Omega does not condone behavior that violates our organization's policy on human dignity." . . .
"

[kateee]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

And kateee, if you are not a sorority member, you should not have sorority letters in your signature line. It is bad form and will not bode well for you in your future rush.

I already rushed, I just haven't been initiated yet. My mother has been fighting a constant battle to get me to quit. I paid my dues myself and am on track for initiation! Its happening very soon.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

It's hard for me to imagine someone growing up in America without knowing any people of Hispanic descent

In most of PA, it's pretty much the norm.

[LionTamer]

But then I read the signs, which are just racist and snotty and reinforce the negative stereotypes of exactly how non-Greeks think about sorority girls as unpleasant spoiled bitches. Ugh.

I loved being in a sorority. I learned leadership, group dynamics, organizational skills, dealing with disparate personalities, and the value of having good women friends.

I had (and continue to have) a LOT of close friends in that very chapter and they were seriously great girls. I'm guessing some of these girls are their daughters, and that just makes me sad.

The whole point of college is to move these narrow, stupid, gated-community prejudices out of people's heads by exposing them to the wider world.

Ugh.

(oh, and 33girl is right. Central PA is VERY isolated and homogeneous)

[AOII Angel]

Hopefully this will lead to something good. Exposure to other cultures by sensitivity programming, that I'm sure will be a part of the sanctions imposed by Chi O HQ, will be eye opening for this group and maybe the entire Greek Community. In some quarters discrimination against Hispanics, especially Mexicans, has taken root due to the contentious debate on immigration reform. Sometimes we need to be reminded that there are real people on the other end of the debate and not just caricatures.

[LatinaAlumna]

Interestingly, Chi Omega apologized to NALFO:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/100750107/N...ment.NALFO.PDF

Personally, I'd rather see an apology from the Penn-dejas in question than their national president.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by LatinaAlumna

Interestingly, Chi Omega apologized to NALFO:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/100750107/N...ment.NALFO.PDF

Personally, I'd rather see an apology from the Penn-dejas in question than their national president.

Agreed!

[janssen2010]

i thought it was a funny social and screw whoever thought it was racist grow a sense of humor and stop getting so critical of people dang

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by janssen2010

i thought it was a funny social and screw whoever thought it was racist grow a sense of humor and stop getting so critical of people dang

Punctuation is your friend.