By now nearly everyone has seen the deplorable video of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon-Kappa chapter at the University of Oklahoma. In the video, members of the fraternity are chanting a racial phrase, and undoubtedly offending millions and hurting the image of SAE and all Greek Life. This use of their First Amendment right on the bus was inappropriate. And any other people on the bus, including the members of the sorority, had an opportunity to stop the chant.
But don’t let the horrible actions of a few determine your opinion on the entire organization and Greek Life as a whole. Localize it and look how the other fraternity members of SAE dealt with the situation. Many of the brothers expressed their feelings towards the behavior of the people in the video via Twitter and Facebook, saying things like “those men were not true gentlemen” and that they “didn’t deserve to be associated with SAE.”
The national president of SAE, Brad Cohen, released a statement saying the fraternity has “no tolerance for racism” and that he was “disgusted.” I couldn’t agree more. The United States has always had problems with racism and this video did nothing but fuel the fire. It sickens me that it is 2015 and people such as the ones in the video still exist. They don’t realize the barriers they just put up between communities and Greeks. A barrier that no one wants to touch because people are afraid to admit it is a problem. Racism is taught and these people seem to think what they’ve learned is acceptable.
Shutting down the chapter was Cohen’s best option. Even if it wasn’t the entire fraternity, neither of the two members in the video were stopped by their brothers. That was shameful. Everyone either sat there or joined in.
The president of OU expelled the two students.
And while I don’t agree with what was said in the video, the expulsion without due process because they “created a hostile learning environment for others” according to University of Oklahoma President David Boren, I defend their right to free speech. The First Amendment protects all speech—love or hate.
Luckily for us at MSU, we have a great group of SAE’s and a wonderful Greek community. The diversity within our campus is spectacular and anyone who doesn’t view other cultures as a blessing needs a wakeup call. Life would be boring and dull without variety.
Take a chance and meet your local SAEs and Greek Life members. Get to know them. Understand their values as a brotherhood or sisterhood. No one wants to be discriminated against. No one.
