Duke Frat in Trouble for Party Theme

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
How many more times does this need to be repeated?

You know GC...there's always someone (usually the same people) who just don't get it. EVERYTHING is a PC issue.

[cash78mere]

Originally posted by VirtuousErudite
Maybe, just maybe you aren't able to understand why people are offended or even feel discriminated against or belittled because you don't have to live the life of a minority from day to day.

may, just maybe you know NOTHING about me or my life. so don't make assumptions or try to make me see the "error of my ways". i don't appreciate it.

i refuse to watch EVERYTHING i say or do because i MAY offend someone. good lord.

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by Blue Violets

The ATOs had their traditional Ghetto Fabulous party tonight, but of course renamed it (b/c of the Sigma Chi debacle) "Rapper's Delight"--of course it still WAS Ghetto Fabulous (I was there). We're all wondering if the KA formal will still be called Old South (which it has been since the Alpha Phi chapter started in 1903 here at Duke). Several sororities get together & have a party called "White Trash" every year but I think that might be different this year too....hmmmm....

I've always wondered: Why do NPC/IFC groups tend to have theme parties centered around ethnic minority stereotyping? Is it not as much fun to just show up as you want and have a good time?

I've never been to or even seen a NPHC group have a 'Potato Famine Party' where we dress up as drunk Irish people in rags and the entrance 'code word' is to beg for food. Oh, I know, maybe because we have CLASS and respect the struggles of others!!!! And we know that you don't have to make fun of a group to have a good time!!!

For me, a good NPHC party is one where the DJ knows to play the best music and no matter who is sponsoring the party, all groups have a chance to get out there and strut.

[sigmagrrl]

Originally posted by sigmadiva
I've always wondered: Why do NPC/IFC groups tend to have theme parties centered around ethnic minority stereotyping? Is it not as much fun to just show up as you want and have a good time?

I think a few things are factors:

* Tradition: probably had these types of parties for YEARS and feel there is nothing wrong with keeping them going. Particularly if they know and believe that they themselves as individuals are not racist

*Lack of diversity in the NPC/IFC system: I've stated it before. Just because Sally likes soccer, but Cindy likes acting, that doesn't make you a diverse chapter. "Diversity" has become so overused that it's lost its true meaning.

*Lack of proper intercultural education: If lil' Johnny comes to college with his only exposure to African American culture having been Yo MTV Raps (Lord, is that still on?), BET, and bling-bling videos, he's likely to not have any TRUE understanding of the AA community as a whole. He is basing his knowledge on assumptions and media conceptualization...

*Lack of sensitivity: Race is just not the predominately relevant, socially pressing topic of the moment for college students right now...So there's no need to educate. Hip-hop/R&B is embraced by all cultures now, so there is an assumption again that they have nothing to "fix" in their mindset

*One more possibility: I am giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming that maybe, possibly, they mean it as an homage to the culture? And I don't mean these blatantly ignorant examples...I mean other parties that have been held. I don't WANT to think that the sisters/brothers of these chapters are sitting around thinking/saying, "Hmm, what race haven't we insulted? Hmm, I know! We can make fun of Mexicans this time!" Their actions, as uneducated as they are, may not have been derived from or for impure, vicious thoughts or intentions

[PM_Mama00]

Funny... I saw Delt Sigs of ALL races participate in the White Trash Bash. I had no problem with that at all! We're pretty much mocking the unfortunate people who live in trailers or other less expensive homes, who are somehow fortunate enough to drive an Escalade, Caddy, Lincoln, Mustang... or whatever.

Disclaimer: My ex lived in a trailer, and I loved hanging out there and had no problem with it. So I'm NOT dissin the trailer.

[Munchkin03]

It's always just seemed to me that poor whites are the only group that everyone feels okay about criticizing--and that goes for rich as well as poor, black as well as white. They are the last group to be impacted by the PC movement.

I guess that's why it's okay to have a "White Trash Bash" and not a "Ghetto Fab Ball."

edited to sufficiently show sarcasm and my belief that all forms of discrimination and denigration, including against those of different socioeconomic status, are wrong.

[33girl]

Originally posted by Blue Violets
Um, that is not a very cool thing to say and almost 'racist,' eh? Judging the quality of someone's ethnicity by their last name....

Marc M. IS Latino--he was born & raised in Puerto Rico.

Flashback to the Seinfeld "Donna Chang" episode.

And yes, for a lot of kids in the boonies (I was one) the only exposure they have to blacks IS music videos or other blacks in the media. If that's the only image that keeps getting put out, people will start to believe it.

FWIW during my whole time in college, I NEVER attended (or heard of anyone holding) a mixer or party whose theme had anything to do with "ethnic minority stereotyping" so please don't assume everyone does this.

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by 33girl


FWIW during my whole time in college, I NEVER attended (or heard of anyone holding) a mixer or party whose theme had anything to do with "ethnic minority stereotyping" so please don't assume everyone does this.

No, not EVERYONE, but, I think it can be agreed that the ethnic stereotyping parties are more common among NPC/IFC groups.

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
It's always just seemed to me that poor whites are the only group that everyone feels okay about criticizing--and that goes for rich as well as poor, black as well as white. They are the last group to be impacted by the PC movement. I guess that's why it's okay to have a "White Trash Bash" and not a "Ghetto Fab Ball."

No, it is not okay. And if you notice it is the NPC/IFC groups that are having the "White Trash Bash", not NPHC. Like I said, NPHC orgs don't need to denigrate a group of people to justify a party.

The problem I have with the White Trash / Ghetto Fab parties is that they are poking fun at people of a certain (lower) economic group. Why is that?

[Munchkin03]

I was being sarcastic. I think it's terribly mean and snobby to have something that denigrates people based on socioeconomic status, but I think I understand why it's accepted at some college campuses.

[PM_Mama00]

I understand what you're saying, but what do yuo think of the African Americans in IFC/NPC dressing up for the White Trash Bash? You keep sayin it's only these two groups of organization holding these, which is prolly true, and maybe it's wrong, but the fraternity that held this party is extremely diverse (white, black, asian, puerto rican, arab, jewish, etc) and many of these members participated in this. I'm in no way sounding bitchy but I'm curious what your opinion of this is?


And a question for everyone... why is a pimps and hoes party bad? That's just making fun of a really stupid "hobby" or "occupation".

[sigmagrrl]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
I understand what you're saying, but what do yuo think of the African Americans in IFC/NPC dressing up for the White Trash Bash?

They're just as guilty....

Everyone, no matter their ethnicity, is capable of prejudice.

[33girl]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
And a question for everyone... why is a pimps and hoes party bad? That's just making fun of a really stupid "hobby" or "occupation".

I think people object to pimps & hoes more because of how it makes the sorority look or because it's promoting males in a position of power over females. I've never heard of the pimp lobby voicing a protest.

[VirtuousErudite]

Do whatever you feel as right. As long as you can live with the way YOU choose to treat others then that is on you. Just be prepared to deal with ALL of the consequences of those actions. IWe all have to remember that values like class, respect, and courtesy are not important to all.


Have a great day.

Originally posted by cash78mere
may, just maybe you know NOTHING about me or my life. so don't make assumptions or try to make me see the "error of my ways". i don't appreciate it.

i refuse to watch EVERYTHING i say or do because i MAY offend someone. good lord.

[Serenity]

Sigmadiva, I've often wondered the same thing.

Sigmagrrl, good post.

Originally posted by sigmagrrl
I think a few things are factors:

* Tradition: probably had these types of parties for YEARS and feel there is nothing wrong with keeping them going. Particularly if they know and believe that they themselves as individuals are not racist

*Lack of diversity in the NPC/IFC system: I've stated it before. Just because Sally likes soccer, but Cindy likes acting, that doesn't make you a diverse chapter. "Diversity" has become so overused that it's lost its true meaning.

*Lack of proper intercultural education: If lil' Johnny comes to college with his only exposure to African American culture having been Yo MTV Raps (Lord, is that still on?), BET, and bling-bling videos, he's likely to not have any TRUE understanding of the AA community as a whole. He is basing his knowledge on assumptions and media conceptualization...

*Lack of sensitivity: Race is just not the predominately relevant, socially pressing topic of the moment for college students right now...So there's no need to educate. Hip-hop/R&B is embraced by all cultures now, so there is an assumption again that they have nothing to "fix" in their mindset

*One more possibility: I am giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming that maybe, possibly, they mean it as an homage to the culture? And I don't mean these blatantly ignorant examples...I mean other parties that have been held. I don't WANT to think that the sisters/brothers of these chapters are sitting around thinking/saying, "Hmm, what race haven't we insulted? Hmm, I know! We can make fun of Mexicans this time!" Their actions, as uneducated as they are, may not have been derived from or for impure, vicious thoughts or intentions