Yet another ritualistic gender passion play was staged last week, this time at the University of Vermont, where a chapter of a fraternity was shut down indefinitely because of purportedly misogynistic conduct. A headline on a woman's rights site blared: Success! Frat That Joked About Raping Women Closed.
By now the story is well known: the fraternity circulated a survey among its members asking who they would like to rape. This crude and childish query was presented as yet another instance of misogynistic conduct in the hyper-masculine culture of fraternities, where such conduct not only is common but flourishes.
Except, apparently, that's not what happened. The fraternity didn't send out a survey; apparently, one new frat brother posed the offensive question to a limited fraternity audience. Not only was his action not sanctioned by the fraternity, but the person or persons to whom the survey was sent refused to answer the question and told the new member who sent it to change it immediately.
But hardly anybody cares what really happened. The headline about a frat sending out a rape survey was all they needed to slip into full-blown victim mode. Gender activists couldn't trip over one another to see who could bray their righteous indignation the loudest. An on-campus rally of hundreds of students protested both the fraternity -- even though the fraternity didn't sanction the survey -- and "rape culture," and an on-line petition demanding that the fraternity be shut down got more than 3,500 signatures. All of this occurred before any investigation into the incident had been concluded.
The innocent frat brothers didn't know what hit them. "I feel like this whole entire thing came out of nowhere," former SigEp member K.C. Charles said. "It was a fraternity against the world pretty much during the worst time of the semester."
How did the National fraternity react? Neville Chamberlain would have been proud. It caved in to the activists' screeching overreaction for the sake of political expediency. And today, women's groups are patting themselves on the back -- mission accomplished! Another triumph over misogyny! The site that launched the on-line petition touted the message that it helped send: "rape is not something to casually consider. Ever. Under any circumstances."
But that's not the only message they sent, is it? By punishing all of the members of a fraternity for the actions of, apparently, one frat brother, they sent another message -- a message that goes like this: for purported gender offenses, it is perfectly acceptable to overreact, ignore due process, and punish innocent men for the sins of "patriarchy."
That, of course, is a "justice" grounded in misandry.
The principal lesson from this incident, for anyone paying attention, is exactly opposite to the one most people assume was taught.
Sources:
http://www.vermontcynic.com/news/fraternity-closed-indefinitely-former-members-speak-out-1.2682802
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/16/uvms-rape-survey-was-not-_n_1153392.html
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35 comments:
P.S. I still find the query indefensible. That is not to say it is legally actionable. I would be curious as to what FIRE thinks about the 1st Amendment aspect. I would also note that a fraternity should have the right to police its chapters, but the sanction here seems to have been in response to external pressure.
http://feministing.com/2011/12/19/uvm-frat-closed-indefinitely-after-who-would-you-rape-survey-scandal/
The Nationals are like mother hens. They notoriously protect their chapters regardless of individual infractions. This is nothing new.
What IS new is that they have been cornered into suspending chapters whose behaviors and attitudes towards women is inexcusable.
Believe me, the "suspension" is only a slap on the wrist, and will be lifted when the hype dies down.
The closure was not just a suspension.
As a Brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon, I am ashamed at the actions taken by nationals. Was the question wrong, YES one million times over, but to punish the whole chapter for the actions of a new member is bullshit.
Sarah Silverman is known for her rape jokes, one of which made it into her movie "Jesus is Magic." The verbatim quote: "I was raped by a doctor … which is so bittersweet for a Jewish girl." My question: why is this apparently OK? I'm genuinely curious ...
Suspended or closed -- whatever. What is significant is that the National took immediate action ... before an actual rape occurred!
"to punish the whole chapter for the actions of a new member is bullshit."
If your brother committed a crime, would you break the code of silence and report him. Or would you cover for him?
I think you know the answer. That's why the actions of a few jerks should reflect the entire chapter.
"My question: why is this [sarah silverman's remarks] apparently OK? I'm genuinely curious ..."
Because it's okay for a N***** to call a N***** a N*****.
Anon at 6:13: Sorry, I can't follow this, um, "logic."
Anon at 6:07: That's right. Because the single question about rape, that the other members told the offender to change, is going to cause a rape? P.S. won't these evil males just go and rape somewhere else? Or will the shame of having their frat closed turn them into decent people?
"The fraternity didn't send out a survey; apparently, one new frat brother posed the offensive question to a limited fraternity audience. Not only was his action not sanctioned by the fraternity, but the person or persons to whom the survey was sent refused to answer the question and told the new member who sent it to change it immediately."
So even when they act as feminists demand by telling the wrongdoer he's wrong they're still wrong.
Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
"a new fraternity member" -- was he actually a full new member of the fraternity or was he still formally a pledge at the time of his actions? Sometimes these media reports miss out the questions to ask.
Anon 6:13,
1) The actions, while in poor taste or not, were Not a crime.
2) What 'code of silence' applies to members of fraternities more or less than people in sororities, any other social group, or among individual friends? I think you're reading too much feminist nonsense.
3) You wrote about a "few jerks'. I was under the impression it was the action of one person and not a few members.
If one member of a sorority or a women's social club on campus makes a false rape allegation or better yet circulates a survey to castrate men should then the entire sorority or group be suspended or kicked off campus?
AL
The good fraternity men, along with other men who are not manginas or white-knights, will learn a lesson from this far out of proportion politically-correct anti-male reaction by their national, the school, feminists, and society, to the actions of one person. Those fraternity men may not yet know of the Men's Movement and be concerned about the misandry (hatred of males) in modern society yet they know unfairness when encountered. They also know how women are not held accountable for their behavior and the special class treatment they receive. Yes, those men have learned a lesson to be even more pc guarded in public and to be even more suspicious of women in private.
AL
I've actually voted on several petitions on that site in the past, needless to say I am disappointed, though it was the women's rights section, not the focus of the entire site. I must say I feel for the frat brothers.
This ??rape survey?? seems "fishy", someone should do some research, was it a pledge who wrote it, or was it the girl who ???discovered??? the survey, who wrote it.
That's MY question - HOW was this survey discovered?
Did some outside person somehow come across it, or did the aclaimed "code of silence" not actually exist?
Al ---- your #1, #2, #3 reply to the 6:13 is ridiculous. Read the 6:13 again. Do you comprehend the intent of that comment at all?
Per Archivist "Anon at 6:13: Sorry, I can't follow this, um, logic." [in reference to a frat's responsibility for the infractions of a few of its members]
aRchivist, The logic is very simple if you're familiar with the Greeks. You do know, do you not, that the word Brother refers to Frat. Brother?
"That's MY question - HOW was this survey discovered?"
Do you honestly think for one minute that the National would close the fraternity if they had the slightest doubt about how the survey originated?
"P.S. won't these evil males just go and rape somewhere else? Or will the shame of having their frat closed turn them into decent people?"
Hey, you're absolutely right. The fraternity should continue to operate and do business as usual with the blessings of the school and national.
Anon 12:49,
I did read the post again and I stand by what I responded with to Anon 6:13. Why don't you instead write why you found my response "ridiculous" as you labeled it. The logic of Anon 6:13 was ridiculous. Then again, so is that of most feminists. Did you post Anon 6:13? Perhaps you need to learn how to express yourself better in writing? Better yet, take a course in logic.
The 6:13 post twisted logical reasoning and metaphors back and forth making and breaking connections.
Feminism is a mental disorder.
AL
Anon at 1:04: I agree. Send the offender to sensitivity trainer as the head of the frat said, and keep the fraternity opened. Good suggestions.
http://falserapesociety.blogspot.com/2011/12/shutting-down-fraternity-is-social.html
My only fraternity experience in college was as a member of the Tappa Nu Keg chapter of Iotta Felta Thigh. But the only way these cowardly "national" organizations will be reined in from precipitous closings is if members of constituent chapters of Sigma Phi Epsilon resign in protest in large numbers at numerous schools, becoming "Gamma Delta Iotas" or petitioning other fraternites among whom they have friends for admission. When (and if) a national organization watches their membership go "poof" over a politically correct overreaction, other organizations will likely discover the virture of caution and investigation before punishment.
Anon @12:56
More feminist nonsense. Feminists are shrewd "manipulators" to most people unfamiliar with their political tactics and game playing. You did not objectively, honestly, and logically answer Archivist's early post with your response. When you femi-nazis post on MRA sites you are dealing with a very different breed of man here than the average Joe on the street. You're out of your league.
AL
Anon @ 6:13 If your brother committed a crime,Would it be fair to lock you up with him?-Well,That's what the shutting down of this frat is doing,Punishing innocents for what one frat brother did.
Rational logic,The actions of 1 do not reflect that of the entire group.Feminist activists logic,The actions of 1 man reflect all of mankind & they all need to be castrated!
That's what the shutting down of this frat is doing,Punishing innocents for what one frat brother did."
Apparently this chapter needs more stringent recruitment standards.
"Send the offender to sensitivity trainer as the head of the frat said ..."
Sensitivity training is part of the training included during orientation, which all first year males are required to attend in most schools.
So now you are now in "favor" of orientation --- when did you change your mind?
"If your brother committed a crime,Would it be fair to lock you up with him?"
Did I know about the crime?
Was I involved in a conspiracy to commit the crime.
Did I cover up the crime?
5:46: that's what the ex-head of the local fraternity suggested should be done for the kid who made the crude remark. I'm OK with telling people to be civil after they've acted without civility. I'm not OK with assuming guilt by reason of penis.
"Sensitivity training is part of the training included during orientation, which all first year males are required to attend in most schools".
--- Are all first year females required to attend or take a similar orientation such as one that covers making false rape allegations?
AL
How many sororities have feminists, and their ilk/supporters/subscribers have shut down over the word(s)/misdeed(s)/actions/words due to wrong on their part(s)?
Anonymous said...
"to punish the whole chapter for the actions of a new member is bullshit."
If your brother committed a crime, would you break the code of silence and report him. Or would you cover for him?
I think you know the answer. That's why the actions of a few jerks should reflect the entire chapter.
Dec 19, 2011 6:13:00 PM
Lies! All Lies and you told them! Each individula is respensible for their own words/actions/deeds, etc. This is,unless you live/aregoverned by/controlled by a femocracy/feminized govwerment/society, etc. Ther has been, and is much, misconduct by females in this world.
The question should be asked, (so we can ask some questions here to figure out true from false) who ????found??? this survey, did anyone at all see the survey??? and why did this young recruit supposedly CC this E-mail to the "Gender-Raunch" community.
Was this young recruit a "Gender-Raunch plant" into the fraternity, in order to give the University of Vermont Gender-feminist community a reason to march??
Very good questions, but all the facts are hidden and obscured by the gender-feminist community who fear their deviant set up will be exposed to the truth.
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