STOP BEING SO STUPID!

[Kevin]

It's unfortunate that there is any punishment being sought by the school at all. Teach these young people that their conduct is offensive to some (they probably are not aware of this) and that going through life trying to be a decent human being is the best way to do it.

Actual punishment of this sort? It's just going overboard. I really have a problem with schools disciplining groups for behavior they deem offensive. Dangerous activities? Sure. Hazing? Sure. Just offensive? I'm going to have to say no. College should be a place where you should feel free to express yourself and do a few stupid things where you can learn where these boundaries exist.

Love the thread title though, this forum could probably see every thread start with that title.

[DrPhil]

Kevin, the problem with that logic is (the sharing of differing opinions aside) it is easy for you as a white man to say that a chapter being racially derogatory is worth no more than an apology and racial sensitivity training.

"Hazing" doesn't always harm people in terms of safety and jeopardizing lives. Sometimes "hazing" only hurts feelings. Sometimes "hazing" only offends. Sometimes "hazing" does neither but the "powers that be" decide that the behavior is inappropriate despite the people undergoing the "hazing" being perfectly fine or even excited about what they are experiencing.

So, if schools and GLOs can punish chapters for "hazing" regardless of the full context, schools and GLOs should also be able to punish chapters for being racially derogatory (even if every member of that racial and ethnic group is not offended).

What the punishment should be will vary but apology and racial sensitivity training may not suffice. I refuse to believe college students with any half of a brain are unaware that a Taco Tuesday that includes stereotypical language and attire would be a good idea. White privilege and overall stupidity can be blinding but it is up to them to get their heads out of their asses. As we have seen with racially themed parties over the past 5 years, harsh penalties are required to buffer the over-and-over-again stupidity. Many of these people will still be bigoted idiots at the end of the day but some punishments have to be about retribution and not rehabilitation.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Kevin, the problem with that logic is (the sharing of differing opinions aside) it is easy for you as a white man to say that a chapter being racially derogatory is worth no more than an apology and racial sensitivity training.

"Hazing" doesn't always harm people in terms of safety and jeopardizing lives. Sometimes "hazing" only hurts feelings. Sometimes "hazing" only offends. Sometimes "hazing" does neither but the "powers that be" decide that the behavior is inappropriate despite the people undergoing the "hazing" being perfectly fine or even excited about what they are experiencing.

So, if schools and GLOs can punish chapters for "hazing" regardless of the full context, schools and GLOs should also be able to punish chapters for being racially derogatory (even if every member of that racial and ethnic group is not offended).

I'm glad you differentiate between the hazing where people are physically harmed and hazing where the only harm is mental. Both can be unlawful in many states. I can tell you that in at least my state, I think we have a decent statute:

https://studentconduct.okstate.edu/hazing

It doe specify mental health, but I have only heard of very harsh physical abuse ever being prosecuted. Hazing is already a crime, let the criminal justice system work it out. As for just being offensive, the criminal justice system can't always work it out because we have a First Amendment right to be offensive and insensitive.

What the punishment should be will vary but apology and racial sensitivity training may not suffice. I refuse to believe college students with any half of a brain are unaware that a Taco Tuesday that includes stereotypical language and attire would be a good idea. White privilege and overall stupidity can be blinding but it is up to them to get their heads out of their asses. As we have seen with racially themed parties over the past 5 years, harsh penalties are required to buffer the over-and-over-again stupidity. Many of these people will still be bigoted idiots at the end of the day but some punishments have to be about retribution and not rehabilitation.

I grew up a white kid with two professional parents in an affluent suburb attending mostly private school. I will not have you lecture me about how oblivious people with a privileged background can be to things you label as common sense.

You talk about "harsh penalties," but harsh penalties for crimes which only result in someone being offended should not exist. You cannot use harsh penalties to stamp out a culture of racial obliviousness.

Education is what is needed, not retribution.

[DrPhil]

You missed the point. If "hazing" can include "hurt feelings" or "you enjoyed this experience but it is still technically 'hazing'" then it isn't a huge leap for chapters to be punished for demographic insensitivity.

You come from a particular type of environment therefore you know that diversity training and racial sensitivity training mean nothing. If these white people cared enough they would educate themselves.

[Kevin]

What is the goal of punishment? Deterrance?

Well it's worked nicely so far, right?

[StealthMode]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Education is what is needed, not retribution.

In this case, I think the retribution is doing the educating. This chapter and everyone who has heard about their situation just learned that this type of event is a bad idea for reasons X, Y, and Z. Whether they will use that knowledge going forward is anybody's guess.

[DrPhil]

No, the goal of punishment has transitioned to retribution. Most research on crime and overall human behavior has found a weak or statistically insignificant deterrent effect of punishment. The average person doesn't believe she/he will get caught therefore the quickness or harshness of the punishment means little to nothing.

Just like many hazing punishments have transitioned to being more about retribution than about deterrence. Many schools and GLOs across councils and conferences have learned that the punishments often teach chapters how to better hide the behavior rather than abstain from the behavior altogether. Even putting people's names and chapter's names on websites has not stopped many people and chapters from engaging in the behavior.

Attempting to use the threat of punishment or actual punishment to deter white people from hosting these parties is as silly and pointless as diversity/racial sensitivity training.

[DrPhil]

^^^ That logic is why we can look forward to racially themed parties sponsored by GLO chapters. Halloween is an especially fun time.

But don't mind me. I'm just a PC Terrorist who believes in some form of sanction for "nothing more than" offending a minority group.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

^^^ That logic is why we can look forward to racially themed parties sponsored by GLO chapters. Halloween is an especially fun time.

But don't mind me. I'm just a PC Terrorist who believes in some form of sanction for "nothing more than" offending a minority group.

In America, you aren't entitled to see someone punished because they offend you. If so, the Westboro Baptist folks would be in prison.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Kevin

In America, you aren't entitled to see someone punished because they offend you. If so, the Westboro Baptist folks would be in prison.

You are leaping.

In that case, schools and GLOs need to revise quite a few of their policies and procedures. They violate our Riiiiiiiiiiiiights.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Kevin

In America, you aren't entitled to see someone punished because they offend you. If so, the Westboro Baptist folks would be in prison.

Nobody is punishing individual members; they are punishing the group.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Nobody is punishing individual members; they are punishing the group.

Corporations are people, my friend.

[Low D Flat]

What is the goal of punishment? Deterrance? Well it's worked nicely so far, right?

Actually, I think it's worked extremely well. How common was this type of party in the 80s? In the 60s? How much does it happen now? It hasn't been eradicated, but there's probably been a 95% drop -- maybe even 99%*. So it seems to me that campaigns and rules barring ethnic themes/costumes do work.

*And there were far worse party themes back in the day. One of the SEC NPC chapters posted a retro picture from the 50s or early 60s of a rush party, and you could just barely see the sign welcoming freshmen to the "XYZ Plantation."

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Low D Flat

Actually, I think it's worked extremely well. How common was this type of party in the 80s? In the 60s? How much does it happen now?

I don't remember parties like this in the 80s.* Not saying they didn't happen, and maybe it was lack of social media where every little aspect of life is publicized around the globe, but in my experience at least these types of parties weren't really that common back then. We were too busy having toga parties and the like.


* Not including "life on the plantation" parties. Those I definitely remember.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I don't remember parties like this in the 80s.* Not saying they didn't happen, and maybe it was lack of social media where every little aspect of life is publicized around the globe, but in my experience at least these types of parties weren't really that common back then. We were too busy having toga parties and the like.


* Not including "life on the plantation" parties. Those I definitely remember.

Kappa Alpha Order did (maybe still does) the Old South formals where folks dress in antebellum garb. They flew (and maybe still fly) the Confederate flag, etc.