OT-ish: OSU suspends Greek Life
http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/16/us/ohio-state-suspends-fraternity-activit…
Ohio State follows us, Florida State, and Texas State in suspending Greek Life. I thought this might be pertinent to the board because we did the same thing last week, but still put the OT tag on anyway.
November 17th, 2017 at 7:56 AM ^
I think the kid dying at PSU, while his frat brothers did nothing is a catalyst for change in the Greek System. I don't know if there are additional high profile cases, but if there are...
November 17th, 2017 at 8:34 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 8:22 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 8:36 AM ^
Both sides have the outrage meter cranked up to 11 on every damn issue right now for some reason. I can't take it.
Wake me up when shit returns back to normal.
November 17th, 2017 at 9:01 AM ^
Hate to break it to you pal, but at this rate you're going to be asleep for a long, long, LONG time.
November 17th, 2017 at 9:34 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 9:58 AM ^
At least porn has a happy ending
November 17th, 2017 at 10:48 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 10:42 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 10:45 AM ^
we were talking about Outrage.
November 17th, 2017 at 11:45 AM ^
I would love to see what Hatter's safe space looks like... I bet it's a lot of fun!
November 17th, 2017 at 7:41 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 7:51 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 7:52 AM ^
Wait, Michigan suspended Greek Frats? Why and what does that mean?
November 17th, 2017 at 8:13 AM ^
Actually, the fraternities suspended themselves. This is probably going to help them alot, as the university will see them taking self-monitoring steps. It's quite a bit different from the university shutting them down. My guess is that everybody is going to be on very good behavior for a few months.
November 17th, 2017 at 11:44 AM ^
Comeon man... they didn't even make it to Thanksgiving break this year!
November 17th, 2017 at 8:04 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 8:11 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 9:35 AM ^
The real purpose of frats is elitist self-identification. If you are a white son of fairly well to do parents, you won't have to live or socialize with blacks or Jews, or even with geeks or other types of students you deem inferior. Why do you think there are Jewish fraternities and black fraternities? I suspect mainly because those students were not welcome in the other fraternities. But, in any event, there is a whole lot of self-segregation involved in the Greek system.
Haven't you ever watched Animal House? Revenge of the Nerds? Comedies, to be sure. And great ones, at that. But, at the heart of all comedy lies large nuggets of truth.
November 17th, 2017 at 9:51 AM ^
I think that's a bit much. While there are clearly fraternities who are openly racist and elitist, I don't think painting with such a broad stroke is the way to formulate an argument. Things don't always have to be "us vs them". Because what you have done here is said "everyone who is in a "white" fraternity acts this way". How can anyone take you seriously with that approach? I can agree with your assumption about the creation of Jewish and African-American fraternities based on exclusion. I mean, is being part of any campus group elitist self-identification? If I join a group that write letters to sick kids in the hospital, am I better than someone who doesn't do that....?
November 17th, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^
What's sad and also deliciously ironic is that you are just as judgmental as the sect of fraternities you're criticizing.
I was in a fraternity at Michigan, and we had brothers from all walks of life. White, Black, Asian, rich, poor, straight, gay, Jewish, Christian, and even Hindu. Sorry that you have a bad impression of Greek life, but if all you're basing your opinion off of is Animal House and what you see on the nightly news, I can't say I'm surprised why you feel the way you do.
I will be the first to admit that there are definitely shit houses out there with degenerate members. But you'd be a fool to group everyone in the same boat.
November 17th, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^
I imagine the reason there are Jewish, black, etc. fraternities is because they indeed were needed for that purpose...many decades ago. Same reason HBCU schools still exist today. You don't really think kids join frats to avoid dealing with non-white people, do you?
And if you think modern day self-segregation is some kind of issue specific to the Greek System, then I'm not sure what to tell you
November 17th, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^
think the draw for a lot students is that being a part of a fraternity can make somebody's college "world" quite a bit smaller. All of the sudden, this HUGE school is not quite so overwhelming because you have found a smaller batch of fairly like-minded individuals that serves as "your place" in that world.
November 17th, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
I just agreed with johnb on something.
While a student, I never cared for the Greek system and steered clear - yet it's easily understandable what draws people in.
November 17th, 2017 at 11:28 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 12:01 PM ^
No it's not. Those institutions will continue to exist independent of how much racism does or does not exist
November 17th, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 8:22 AM ^
Mine is. We don't haze, we do a lot of great things around campus and around the city. Our GPA minimum is also a lot higher than the 2.5 that most frats have and that keeps most of the ilk out.
Unfortunately, the organizations are magnets for guys whose only goal is to be featured on TFM and paddle pledges.
November 17th, 2017 at 9:35 AM ^
definition of ilk: a type of people or things similar to those already referred to
So based on the people you are talking about, you would want to keep that ilk around (the type of people that don't haze, do good things and earn good grades). I just think if you are going to insult people, you should know the correct definition of the word you are using.
Also, while I'm at it. Your attitude of being "better than" is in no way better than those fraternities who just sit around and drink all day and make fun of those who don't. I'm all about your fraternity making a difference in a positive way and not being "typical", but don't break your arm patting yourself on the back.
November 17th, 2017 at 9:20 AM ^
Here we go again. The good old "paying for friends" motif. You know that membership fees for joining collegiate organizations are not exclusive to Greek life, right? Hundreds of organizations have membership fees. And those "huge" fees you're talking about go a long way towards subsidizing events throughout the semester, possibly subsidizing your rent (if you live in the house) and meal plan should your house have one, funds for charity events, etc. In other words, money you would've been spending ANYWAY.
I get why a lot of people hate fraternities. There are absolutely bad apples out there, and the 6pm news is only ever going to tell you about when they do something wrong. But I was in a fraternity during my days at UM and I really enjoyed it. Made some great friends, ended up raising a lot of money every year for our ACS charity event, still kept my grades up, and guess what? We found ways to have a good time that didn't involve killing pledges and raping sorority girls.
For some people, fraternities are just not their thing. That's perfectly fine. But they're not all of the "Animal House" variety that they're consistently made out to be.
November 17th, 2017 at 11:41 AM ^
Here we go again. The good old "paying for friends" motif.Sometimes stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. ...and when compared to a frat, the membership dues I pay to professional organizations (1 of which is required by my contract at work) is completely a false equivalency.
November 17th, 2017 at 11:20 AM ^
If you are "cool" enough to get into a "good" one you get unlimited booze at 18 and tons of delta delta delta pie.... What's not to like really? Brialliant idea imo. I'd actually risk my life for that, which is apparently a part of the deal. Have fun kids!
November 17th, 2017 at 11:39 AM ^
and tons of delta delta delta pie
... and that's why there's a ban on Greek life.
November 17th, 2017 at 9:09 AM ^
I just read that story. Notwithstanding that Chi-O's at Michigan back in the late 70's & early 80's were a LOT of fun that is some nonsense right there IMO and would be pretty easy for me to adjudicate if I was the judge. Here are the facts he's dealing with:
Girl #1 has dog alergies and is in a sorority house
Girl #2 also in house has a dog to help her with "panic attacks".
Girl #1 has a verifiable, documented, actual medical condition
Girl #2 has a fucking dog because this month's trendy psyco-fix is rescue animals. Why they fix EVERYTHING! Especially the dreaded, near-fatal and ooooooooh so scary panic attacks
Girl #1 wins.
November 17th, 2017 at 9:42 AM ^
You know that panic attacks are a serious condition right? It's not just some, "oh my gosh, I'm so stressed and panicking right now" thing
When you're having a panic attack, it can be almost impossible to move, and extremely hard to breath, your speech can slur, it can almost feel like a heart attack. Service dogs can be trained to recognize the early signs of an attack and can help by not letting it get to that extreme end point, it's not just strapping a vest on a random dog and calling it a day.
But sure, you know best, because you've been around the block before, am I right?
November 17th, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^
basing this argument on the assumption that panic attacks are not quantifiable? For example, because there are no physically visable signs that someone is having a panic attack that makes it 'not real'? Because I can tell you that there are signs and symptoms for people having panic attacks. I believe I understand the point you are making, but both are real and it looks like it will come down to, which one causes the most discomfort. The judge could also just kick both girls out of the house, that seems the most fair to me.
November 17th, 2017 at 10:48 AM ^
Uhhhhhhhhhhh. I think you are having a bad Friday.
Allergies and anxiety/panic attacks are both forms of a physical response by the body due to a chemical reaction. Just because one has to be externally trigged and one can be internally trigged doesn't make one more real than the other.
November 17th, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
However, "comfort dogs" are, at best, a marginally effective treatement. Therapy and medication are #1 and #1a treatments for panic attacks and do NOT cause an allergic reaction (also a 100% real affliction) in a housemate.
Sorry, but there is just no way that the dog should be allowed to stay. If a dog is truly "required" because other treatments have failed (no freaking way this would every happen, btw), go find another place to live with different roommates of your choosing or a single dorm apartment.
November 17th, 2017 at 11:32 AM ^
yeah, I think your analysis is right - and I do feel bad for the girl with the panic attacks because that is a legit thing, but this is a case where her affliction unfortunately conflicts with the other girl's and there are alternative ways for her to cope whereas a dog allergy is a dog allergy and short of girl #1 getting a therapy animal that doesn't shed (Komodo dragon?), girl #2 has no other recourse.
November 17th, 2017 at 8:14 PM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 11:37 AM ^
What is the percentage of cogently, professionally diagnosed panic attacks versus someone just bringing attention to themselves/being dramatic/needing their safe space?
November 17th, 2017 at 11:49 AM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 12:24 PM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 12:40 PM ^
November 17th, 2017 at 4:01 PM ^
that's surprising because stomach cancer had a great week of practice.
Glad I didn't bet on that one.
November 17th, 2017 at 1:31 PM ^
is the most ridiculous comparison that I have ever seen. Most people who suffer from panic attacks suffer from severe generalized anxiety and/or pretty intense Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. These conditions are "easier" or "harder" to deal with than cancer in the same way that ice cream cones are more or less tasty than magnets. It is simply a completely misplaced comparison. The fact that you go to some variation of medical professional for treatment of both of them does not make them relatable to the other. Yes, I would rather suffer from panic attacks than have cancer or heart failure, but what the hell does that have to do with anything?
November 17th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
"emotional support animals" dear God it's so out of control. OK the concept is fine, the execution is a nightmare and widely abused. It's unfortunate that people assume that service animals are in the same category.
I remember seeing a family waiting to board a flight with the daughter's emotional support pony. Yes, pony. Its poop bag was already full. Cute animal, and about the size of a large dog. Glad he or she was support for the daughter but I felt sorry for the other passengers on that flight.