University fo Okahoma-Sigma Alpha Epsilon-Racial Chant

[Jill1228]

Originally Posted by robinseggblue

The young men are only sorry they got caught.

Yup, this! They are just trifling

[Nanners52674]

at this moment our family is not able to be in our home because of threatening calls as well as frightening talk on social media.

So are we supposed to feel bad about this? An apology is not the place to complain about how your actions have blown up and affected your family.

[ZTA1550]

The fund for Howard is now approaching $60,000. In scrolling through the list of donors, I noticed that several individuals donated in memory of their sorority and fraternity cooks. Sure wish I had thought to do that!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by lake

I'm glad there are going to be consequences for these students. I was embarrassed to hear Tri Delta(s) were involved. I do have a question though: It was mentioned above about how free speech is all about the government not limiting your speech, blah blah blah. But in this case, the president of this university is acting on behalf of a state university, so isn't that, in essence, the government interfering with these students' right to free speech?

Possibly.

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

I'm surprised that I don't see anyone claiming that the actions by President Boren are a violation of the two expelled students Constitutional right to free speech under The First Amendment to the US Constitution.

I think that's the case here, even though I agree with Boren and SAE Nationals actions. Entirely.

I think Kevin hits it right. They know there's a chance a court would say they violated his First Amendment rights, which is why they've attempted to predicate their decision on things other than the speech itself, but they think action now is worth the risk.

I will now go quietly back into Greek Chat hibernation for another few years.

Please don't!

Originally Posted by Kevin

There are good arguments on both sides... and I don't think the school cares whether they have to pay a settlement. They just want to get rid of this.

Yep.

[thetalady]

Interesting commentary.... her ideas made me think.

A Teachable Moment

[MU2Driver]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Why is this your responsibility?

Agree 1000%. SAE has plenty to deal with right now and doesn't need any "help" editing its Wikipedia pages.

To answer the question, SAE designates its chapters by state name followed by one or two Greek letters selected by the charter members and approved by the Supreme Council. There is no particular system.

If the OU chapter were ever to be reconstituted, it would still be Oklahoma Kappa.

[MU2Driver]

Originally Posted by naraht

It is wikipedia, pages are not owned. In fact due to the rules on Conflict of Interest at Wikipedia, a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon is actually the least appropriate type of person to edit a page about Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

I understand that a literal reading of the Wikipedia conflict of interest policy could be interpreted that way, but it also says "subject-matter experts are welcome to contribute to articles in their areas of expertise, while being careful to make sure that their external relationships in that field do not interfere with their primary role on Wikipedia."

Using this example, who else other than a brother of SAE would have both the subject matter expertise and also the time and inclination to edit the SAE page? It's not a perfect system, which is why most people take Wikipedia with a grain of salt. The options in most cases would seem to be either uninformed editors or editors with a bias against the subject of the article.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by MU2Driver

I understand that a literal reading of the Wikipedia conflict of interest policy could be interpreted that way, but it also says "subject-matter experts are welcome to contribute to articles in their areas of expertise, while being careful to make sure that their external relationships in that field do not interfere with their primary role on Wikipedia."

Using this example, who else other than a brother of SAE would have both the subject matter expertise and also the time and inclination to edit the SAE page? It's not a perfect system, which is why most people take Wikipedia with a grain of salt. The options in most cases would seem to be either uninformed editors or editors with a bias against the subject of the article.

I agree, and I also don't understand the motivation to get involved in a self-admitted "edit war" with someone over whether the appropriate terminology for the chapter at OU is "closed," "inactive," "disbanded," or whatever when one don't personally have the knowledge of the correct terminology and when one has to go to a message board in order to get the information. GC isn't what I would consider a reliable academic source. If one isn't a subject matter expert, then leave it to the subject matter experts. It's wikipedia, not life or death.

That being said, I also don't understand the motivation for several GCers to do and type things they do and type in the name of "helping," but to each his or her own.

[AnchorAlum]

Originally Posted by thetalady

One of the young men expelled is identified as Parker Rice, recent graduate of Jesuit Prep, a prestigious private school in Dallas. They are so proud...

I read that his family has had to move out of their house because of the threats made on his life and to some extent, theirs as well.

Jesuit is a private Catholic school with famous alumni, and well to do (and well known) parents from all over Dallas send their boys there. As a former longtime Dallas resident, a high school teacher in a north Dallas school district, and active in the Panhellenic system in Richardson/Plano, my kids knew many Jesuit boys. I can only imagine the alcohol and complete lack of judgment along with a desire to be "cool" have led to a lifelong mark on this student. I hope his parents are able to impress this on him.

When you have a child go off to college, you think "oh, thank you Lord, he/she got through high school. My worries are over". Not so. Stupid starts on a whole new level. You just don't know about it.

[Lovethesand]

Two articles I came across via twitter that made me stop and think a little.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner...w-david-french

http://www.foxsports.com/college-foo...iolence-031015

[exlurker]

The OU regents will have to decide what to do with the former SAE house:

http://www.oudaily.com/news/former-s...7f87a2802.html

[Titchou]

Awesome article:
https://www.phideltatheta.org/2015/0...sity-oklahoma/

[SWTXBelle]

A different viewpoint and an interesting take on what is to be done:
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2015/03...ent-leadership

"If we want to see real change in fraternities and sororities, we need to free the students to stand up, face the cameras, face their friends and say, "The stupidity must end."

Our members are both bad and good, and likewise, they are both the problem and the solution. Fraternities and sororities need student activism if they are ever to solve their overwhelming issues and negative public image."

[sailboatgirl]

NSU Sorority Members Wake Up To Vandalized Vehicles. They are trying to determine if this is backlash from the OU incident:

http://m.newson6.com/story.aspx?stor...7&catId=112042

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

A different viewpoint and an interesting take on what is to be done:
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2015/03...ent-leadership

"If we want to see real change in fraternities and sororities, we need to free the students to stand up, face the cameras, face their friends and say, "The stupidity must end."

Our members are both bad and good, and likewise, they are both the problem and the solution. Fraternities and sororities need student activism if they are ever to solve their overwhelming issues and negative public image."

Thank you, SWTXBelle, for providing that link / addy. That opinion piece says things that, I think, don't get said as often as they should.