[17690] in APO-L
Gender Exclusive/Single Gender Chpaters
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mark Allen Stratton)
Thu Nov 20 22:05:04 1997
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 22:03:54 -0500
Reply-To: Mark Allen Stratton <senator@IQUEST.NET>
From: Mark Allen Stratton <senator@IQUEST.NET>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
After thinking about some questions posed to me by some Brothers over
e-mail, I've tried to set down why I'm resistent to single-gender or
gender-exclusive chapters on co-educational campuses.
Some have claimed that there are other opportunities for women to join other
service organizations (sororities on campus). I don't disagree - on the
campus of Ball State, home of Delta Xi Chapter, there is Epsilon Sigma Alpha
and I'm sure there are similar groups on your campuses as well. What do
those groups have in common? Service, to be sure. What about Leadership?
What about Friendship? Granted, I'm sure other groups have those in their
organizations, but for us it's not about just "having" them: they are two of
our Cardinal Princples. That makes them something...special, something
extraordinary, something beyond just annual elections, occasional dances,
and random get togethers.
Shouldn't anyone have the opportunity to belong to Alpha Phi Omega?
Shouldn't they have the opporunity to at least SEE what we are? We aren't
for everyone, that's true, and not everyone is for us - this is precisely
why we have a pledge program.
Quite honestly, I just do not buy the argument that requiring our Chapters
on co-educational campuses somehow impinges those Chapter's rights to choose
their membership. I just don't get it, and I'm sorry if I seem either
stubborn or unable to grasp what some apparently believe a simple concept,
but I just don't.
This Fraternity, in my opinion, was not founded for the purpose of service:
it was founded to help give men the right start in life, to help them become
responsible leaders and good role-models, to help them avoid trouble and
make something of themselves. THAT goal is achieved through our three
cardinal principles, aren't they? At least, that's how I see things. And
maybe that's naieve, and maybe it's a bit idealistic, but it's that one that
helps keep me going when Chapter meetings run long or when we have problems
with Brothers or when the tough times get worse. Brother Horton founded a
fraternity of men, I don't dispute it. Why is that? Could it be because it
would have been unheard of in those days to have a co-educational fraternity?
We live in much different times, my Brothers, we really do and now, more
than ever, there are millions of people who need us, and those people
include men, women, Jew, and Gentile, and everyone else. I think we should
open our doors to as many people would like to help us, to be a part of us
so that we can help them.
Our Brothers who believe that gender-exclusive Chapters are good and even
necessary make their arguments intellectually enough, and I honestly do
believe they are sincere in their beliefs. I simply cannot agree with them.
I just can't.
I will conclude with this thought: it is my belief (and I think you can
find this either in the ritual manual or the pledge manual) that EVERYONE
has the potential to Be A Leader, to Be A Friend, and to Be Of Service.
In Brotherhood,
Mark Stratton
Delta Xi Alum
Section 52 Communications Chair
