Yale University is under scrutiny following a statement made by a student that she was not allowed entrance to a party held by Sigma Alpha Epsilon during Halloween weekend because the party was for “white girls only.” SAE is not new to racial controversy, with its University of Oklahoma chapter being caught on tape earlier in the year performing a racist chant. Rather than continue to watch as more allegations and confirmed instances of racism occur, SAE should be disbanded both at Yale and across the country for its repeated acts of discrimination and racism. Additionally, there should be stricter guidelines put in place to monitor the behavior of those involved in Greek life.

It may seem unjust to disband every SAE chapter for the actions of select ones, but the growing trend requires serious action and consequences. Allowing any SAE chapter to continue running after these instances is irresponsible. Under no circumstances should any student be turned away based on his or her race, or any other characteristic that he or she possesses. To allow SAE to remain a part of our country’s college campuses reinforces the idea that if someone says something or behaves in a discriminatory manner that he or she has done nothing wrong.

If Greek life is not monitored properly, the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future will not decrease. Whether it is monitoring for discrimination or instances of hazing, there needs to be a clear standard upheld by colleges and universities that they will not tolerate misdemeanors. I think that the best way to ensure supervision would be a “three strike policy,” with consequences clearly varying based on the degree of a misdemeanor. I think that such a policy would ensure a safer environment that allows all students to feel involved and not victims in any way.

I hope that Yale, along with other colleges and universities who have SAE chapters, takes action to prevent further shameful displays of racism as the one most recently seen on Halloween weekend. If they do not address the issue and the greater issue of the supervision of Greek life, I am certain that what occurred will encourage other SAE chapters, as well as other fraternities, to behave in a similar way.

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One Response

  1. John

    “Under no circumstances should any student be turned away based on his or her race, or any other characteristic that he or she possesses.”

    The first part of this is hard to argue with and I think the vast majority of the American public, me included, agree with you.

    However, and this is the big issue with blanket statements such as the second half of your sentence, there are certain groups with a degree of right to exclusivity. Does a fraternity that only admits varsity athletes have the right to do so? Athletes sweat, bleed and give their hearts to a team goal each and every day at hours when many students lay in bed and watch YouTube videos on their phones. They have virtually no free time between practices, team lifts and homework. Are you going to deny them the right to have an exclusive association with this group of teammates that they essentially are in the trenches with everyday at 5-6 AM? Or is that too “mean” and do we have to drop the idea of athlete, because that is a characteristic that one could use to “discriminate”? Does everyone who wants to be part of the fraternal commune of athletic greek life get to do so without all of the blood, sweat and tears these students put in every day for no pay?

    My point is that a number of these blanket quotes that seek to remove every sort of divide and minimize the inherent differences (which do not change the inherent dignity that is equally due everyone) between people and groups of people creates this vanilla picture of society that’s just not accurate.

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