Political correctness run amoke on college campuses.

[sheriff andy]

http://news.yahoo.com/clemson-puts-cripmas-party-fraternity-2-probation-142447647.html

"Frat suspends Clemson students over racially charged party"

This fraternity evidently threw a themed party that parodied or made light of street gangs. Evidently this is racist in some form or another.  I suppose it would work something like this:

"Gangs are a black thing" (factually not true)
"To make light of gangs, ergo, is racist"

WTF!!  Inappropriate?  Possibly, but there have been no claims that they were actually racist, just that they threw a gang themed party, which was considered racist.


In another recent college event, a student recently wrote a racially derogatory word (the "N" word, say it isn't so, white people can't use that word) at the front of the class.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/university-south-carolina-suspends-student-racist-pic-article-1.2173480

This was obviously wrong. Yes she should be reprimanded. However many are calling for dismissal from the school.

Have we, as a nation become so soft skinned that there can no room for any error in judgement? Can nobody just say "idiot" and go on with their lives. Evidently not, do or say something that offends pretty much anyone, and there must be retribution!

I'm starting to agree with the older generation.  Were breeding a nation of soft skinned pussies.

[sheriff andy]

Toe, I have no doubt that there is racism, just as in that video you provided (Yes I saw that news story).  Being a graduate myself, I am familiar with "Greek life", though never a member.

In this case however, there were no claims of racism beyond the theme of the party. No claims of songs, words or signage.  It appears the entire racist claim is based on "they are making fun of something some blacks take part in".  Seems a bit soft skined overboard to me.

[anvil]

on the other hand we will be an open minded racially neutral society when all of us can poke fun at ourselves and others and most appreciate the humor.

[watcher1]

I will be happy when colleges and universities do away with fraternities and sororities. Their time has passed.

[anvil]

hey, don't forget to throw the boy scouts and the girl scouts in there as well..

let see maybe we could combine them and call them the "Gender neutral scouts"

of course merit badges would have to go,,, lest someone got left behind. 

and then we could have penis shortening parties,,,

and Brest removal galas

young girls could eat a mushroom to grow taller,, and boys one to grow smaller!

yup, sorry I don't agree.

once upon a time I wrote a poem. its more true than ever.

"Under the guise
 of the Liberalized
 we tyrannize
 those who wish to be free."

I used to be liberal, back when liberal meant(to me),,,

tolerance of all

 instead of my way or the highway,,, with 6 years of counselling and community service tacked on.

I'm still that way to the best of my ability, until somebody tries to shove it down my throat.


and last but not least, aren't those thoughts different from extremest anything viewpoints only by matter of degree?

[MissBarbara]

I will be happy when colleges and universities do away with fraternities and sororities. Their time has passed.

I am reluctantly coming to the same conclusion watcher, which is saddening to me.  My college fraternity was a positive life changing experience for a small town boy.  I have held high office at both the local and national levels, yet I see the disconnect between a 21st Century, fully integrated, gender neutral society, and the good ole boy clubs of the 19th.  They've outgrown their usefulness, and I'm not sure I would encourage or permit my own children to join.

I try not to play the "old guy" card, but since you guys are something like 35-40 years removed from your late teens/early 20s, you're sounding very bitter and crotchety.

You're also judging all Greek life by a small handful of incidents that have made the news recently. The majority of fraternities and sororities today -- and I speak from recent and specific experience -- offer the chance for "positive life changing experiences." Or, very fun parties.

Greek life was extremely active at my undergrad university, and though I was never a member -- I am soooo not a sorority girl -- they were never the seedbeds of evil that you seem to think them to be. Yes, there were "incidents," but this was not the fault of the Greek system itself, but rather, the natural consequence of the combination of knuckle-headed kids and alcohol.

[anvil]

being amongst the crotchity, I agree, obviously, with MissB.

I pledged a fraternity, believe it or not, but parted ways after spending my first semester living " in-house".

I'm definitely not a "frat" kind of guy.

I do believe the majority do good and all should not be judged by the actions of the few.

I also realize these are your " thoughts" and would hope you would support their rights as you support the rights of so many others.

[MissBarbara]

I do believe the majority do good and all should not be judged by the actions of the few.

Exactly.

And the same goes for every other group where the majority is tainted by the actions of the minority.

And, in this context, I agree with the thoughts expressed in your poem.

[GEMINIGUY]

There are no bad people in Lamda Lamda Lamda Fraternity at Addams' College.

[Elizabeth]

Member of Tri Beta here. (only difference is that Beta Beta Beta is an Honors Biology Group open to both Male and Female). It's not strictly a Frat or Sorority House, but a Society.

Love,
Liz
 

[Elizabeth]

Except Booger.  

I thought Booger was on a "Holy Grail" to find "Snotty" the one and only.
(or something weird like that).
 
Love,
Liz

[watcher1]

I pledged a fraternity, believe it or not, but parted ways after spending my first semester living " in-house".

I'm definitely not a "frat" kind of guy.

Same with me, anvil. Though MissB calls me crotchety, and I have to admit, sometimes I am, I witnessed first hand the antics of not just one fraternity, but more than a few, and came to the conclusion that I was better off not being in one. Any war veteran witnessing the childish actions of fraternity members and what they do to pledges have much better things to do with their lives, in my opinion.

[Katiebee]

There are no bad people in Lamda Lamda Lamda Fraternity at Addams' College.

Except Booger.   

And it's Adams College.

And it's amok
\ə-ˈmək, -ˈmäk\
noun
:a murderous frenzy that has traditionally been regarded as occurring especially in Malaysian culture

the Romans had a word for that too, furor.

[brody]

And it's Adams College.

And it's amok
\ə-ˈmək, -ˈmäk\
noun
:a murderous frenzy that has traditionally been regarded as occurring especially in Malaysian culture

And thus was born his other nickname: Toe-ah Webster!
 

[MissBarbara]

I try not to play the "old guy" card, but since you guys are something like 35-40 years removed from your late teens/early 20s, you're sounding very bitter and crotchety.

I've attended two undergrad fraternity parties in the last year, as chapter advisor,  Miss B.  How many have you?

A lot more than two.

Besides, do you really feel comfortable condemning all fraternities and sororities nationwide based on attending two parties in one little corner of the country?

[Athos_131]

I don't have the energy to post all the articles.

http://gawker.com/tag/greek-life

http://jezebel.com/tag/greek-life

[MissBarbara]

I don't have time to scan and post the dozens of files I maintain on just the death and rape cases I have been personally involved with on a national level.  And I lost a family member in a hazing incident.  So yes, I think I have a little more experience in this subject than you do.  Play your old man card.  It's all you have on this topic.

Employing your logic, if I were to post 250 links to stories about black people committing crimes, that would be sufficient grounds for a generalization about blacks and criminality.

[MissBarbara]

If you were a licensed criminologist who had spent 30 years in the black community, you might have something relevant to say.  As I understand it, you weren't Greek, you've never worked with or in Greek organizations, but you do like to go to fraternity parties.  So yeah, that makes you an expert.  My apologies.  I will just shut the fuck up now.

I've never once claimed expertise. Like you, I was drawing upon personal experience.

Nor do I need to be "a licensed criminologist who had spent 30 years in the black community" to know that drawing generalizations about an entire group from 250 instances -- or 500, or even 1,000 -- is false on its face.