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opinion
Not everyone
welcome
The beginning of a
new school year has brought the usual craziness. Some are excited
the new school year is beginning while others loath having to
wake up for classes at 8 a.m.
One thing for sure
is that there are all kinds of faces out there. From new freshmen
faces that I am sure most welcome with open arms to all those
new transfer students who bring with them different college
experiences.
And for those new
faces come the pervasive Greek rush week, happening not only
here, but also across the country. A whole week of parties
meant to promote their organizations and recruit those very
few who qualify to be in the ranks of these highly exclusive
and motivated men and women.
Organizations who
not only party, but work with the community in diverse ways
like feeding the homeless during the holidays and providing
mentors for those who need help with their homework.
They help themselves
by constantly surrounding themselves with their "brothers"
and "sisters" for moral, emotional, and homework
support as well.
I did begin with
the positive in all fairness to those who do not endorse the
attitude that I personally came across at one of the "frat"
parties I attended. The situation was not that complicated.
Two friends and
I were at our second and last stop for the evening, showed
our Cal State Long Beach I.D. and walked into the backyard
of the near downtown frat house.
There were heads
floating everywhere and the beer was obviously flowing.
It was a great atmosphere; everyone was socializing, getting
to know one another, laughing and just plain having a good
time.
By the time the
crowd dwindled, very few ladies were left and it seemed as
if the members of the house were in a rush to get the strangers,
who had no intentions of being recruited, out.
My two friends
and I were well entertained by a few very attractive young
ladies and I was there for no other reason.
I can not say what
was going on in those guys' minds especially after a few,
yet I was not oblivious to the actions of the cowboy that
began yelling obscenities at us, including the word "wetback"
more than just once.
He was spouting
off at us and next thing I saw was two of his cronies up in
one of my homie's face. Now keep in mind that I'm the only
brown Mexican in my group while another of my friends is Filipino
and the other is more able to blend into mainstream.
My friend did his
best to ward off those two dudes in his face. They managed
to push us out without a fight but not before my compadre
told them I was a lead writer for the Forty-Niner, which I
am not.
We were left alone
quickly thereafter and suddenly we noticed a new air of respect
they had for us. After that, the supposed president of the
fraternity surfaced, apologized, and assured us that his boy
would be dealt with and politely asked us to leave.
Anger was in our
blood all the way home and we were quiet until we arrived
safely. The next morning the incident was still fresh
in my mind causing a positive thought. The incident
triggered a reassurance of my being and my life choices I
have thus far taken.
All that I could
think of is that I'll be teaching not only curriculum, but
I'll also help raise people's self esteem without having to
lowering anyone else's. But most importantly, I'll be
erasing peoples' ignorance about those around them.
My intention is
not to paint this organization with strokes of negativity,
but to identify the existing attitude within it that may cause
our school to acquire an ill reputation, especially because
of the fact that CSULB is not one bit homogenous.
Joe Armando
Lopez is a teaching credential graduate student at Cal State
Long Beach.
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