Sig
Ep has more claim on diversity than ASU
Jason
Garthoffner
When
I first heard that the African Student Union
was once again angry about something they
deemed insensitive I rolled my eyes. I remembered
the silly debacle they created with the
graphic design show advertisement of a noose
with the words "our first hang,"
also known as the "noose incident."
This time, however temporary, they may have
actually had a point.
Distributing
a flyer featuring a naked black man with
a hat covering his genitalia advertising
Sigma Phi Epsilon's pledge auction was probably
not a wise decision. However, the apology
given to the ASU should have been sufficient
to let the issue die. The fact that the
fraternity cancelled the auction and is
holding a mandatory multicultural workshop,
should be considered extra credit.
Of
course going for the gold is not enough
for the ASU. Many of its members have expressed
their dissatisfaction with the fraternity
still. That's when I stopped sympathizing
with them.
According
to the Union, the ASU is seeking to get
the fraternity suspended from campus for
a year as punishment. At least they're consistent
in their track record of trying to figuratively
lynch people they deem offensive.
Last
year one of its members used the On-line
Forty-Niner to call on the resignation of
Tanya Cummings, the teacher considered responsible
for the "noose incident." Even
after the posters were taken down, Cummings
was suggested by that member of being callous
and ignorant for approving such a poster.
Later in the year they called for accused
racist Robbie Cardenas, who was exonerated
of the accusations against him, to be expelled
from school as well.
Lost
in the controversy of these events has been
the issue of free speech. There has been
no specific law in regards to the actions
of the fraternity, Cummings, or Cardenas
that shows them to be in any kind of criminal
violation. But that has not stopped the
ASU from calling for their heads on a pike.
Contrary
to what those offended by the aforementioned
incidences might like to think, the first
amendment was designed to protect speech
we don't like.
Since
apologies never seem to sit well with the
ASU, I suppose it would be useless to suggest
they apologize for trying to impose themselves
on Cummings's open-minded artistic sensibilities.
Also, I'm sure Cardenas has been able to
go on with his life as a member of Kappa
Sigma, another diverse fraternity, without
a well deserved apology from them.
What
about Sigma Phi Epsilon? The money that
would've been raised by the auction was
supposed to go to charity. So where should
the apology for that go to? The fraternity?
The charity? Or the people the charity would've
benefited?
While the flyer may have been in poor taste,
the context of it changes with the fact
the person in it was a character from the
movie "The Full Monty," which
is about male stripping.
It
is also important to note there were two
other flyer designs with nude white males
from the movie also being distributed. It's
a good thing for the fraternity there is
no Anglo Student Union, as they probably
would be twice as angry with them when they
realize their race was used in twice as
many of the designs.
The
ASU has been resoundingly silent about this
fact. I guess it's only insensitive when
the person depicted is black.
Cultural
sensitivity is important. It is odd though
that Sigma Phi Epsilon, arguably one of
the most diverse fraternities on campus,
is being compelled to hold a multicultural
workshop. The ASU should attend it.
Considering the homogenous racial and cultural
makeup of that group they could use one.
After
the apology was made one member according
to an article in the Union, wanted to know
what can be done to make everything right.
Well, the ASU has two options: One, they
can build a time machine and go back in
time to prevent the flyer from being designed.
Or, two, they can accept the apology, and
everyone can move on with life.
I
wonder when the blueprints for the time
machine will be complete.
Jason
Garthoffner is an art major at Cal State
Long Beach.
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