[15982] in APO-L
I have to say this...
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Lawrence N. Labell)
Wed Jan 8 07:25:44 1997
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 07:22:43 -0500
Reply-To: "Lawrence N. Labell" <lnlabell@BRONZE.LCS.MIT.EDU>
From: "Lawrence N. Labell" <lnlabell@BRONZE.LCS.MIT.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
I was going to let it slip by, but I have to speak up. The
all-male/coed issue is categorically NOT about letting chapters choose
their own membership. Otherwise, you could use the same argument to
apply to people of other races, religions, or sexual orientations than
your standard white, protestant, heterosexual. I fully endorse chapters
being able to choose whomever among those that present themselves as
candidates for active membership, who show themselves sincerely
interested in our program of service and working in harmony with the
existing chapter. In return, I believe chapters should look for those
who will help further the service program and help the chapter grow both
in size and in scope of service offered and its coverage of all
sub-parts of the college/university student body.
I realize that gender makes people different in ways that race,
religion, and sexual preference do not, but I think it's folly to say
that excluding for these differences is simply a matter of "a chapter
choosing its own membership." It is a conscious choice which changes
the very nature of not only the chapter in question, but the fraternity
as a whole. All of us, as intiated members of this fraternity, be we
active, alumni, honorary, or otherwise, who participate, even it it's
simply by sending in a check once a year, in some way condone and
support the actions of all chapter which operate within the scope of the
bylaws. How can we truly say "National Coed Service Fraternity" (be
that the "official" party line or not), when a signifcant minority of
our chapters are not coed?
These statements will upset many, I am sure, and many among them and
among the rest of the people reading this may question my standing to
take such an active position as an alumn and staff "has-been". (The
allmighty knows sometimes I question it, myself.) The answer I have is
simply that I care too much about this fraternity NOT to take up the
banner one more time.
I am not saying that brothers from all-male chapters are not members of
this fraternity. I am also not saying that your chapter is not a
chapter of APO. I AM saying that your APO is somehow different from
mine, and that your chapter lacks something I both treasure and would
not have pledged (ten years ago) without: the idea that ANY student, no
matter what their background, no matter what about themselves over which
they had no control, could become a member as long as they were
sincerely interested in service and fellowship of Alpha Phi Omega. For
me, the exclusion of women as a class destroys that ideal.
For years, I have tried to understand. I've known many brothers from
all-male chapters, worked with them on service projects, served on
sectional staff and chair in a section where they operate...but my words
give my feelings away..."they", and not "we"...no matter how hard I've
tried, I don't understand.
*sigh*
YiLFS,
Larry Labell
Life Member
P.S.: Responses accepted via personal e-mail: lnlabell@bronze.lcs.mit.edu
