[9532] in APO-L
hmm some opinions
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (John Grossi)
Fri Sep 30 13:54:09 1994
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 1994 11:54:22 -0400
Reply-To: John Grossi <qasama@WPI.EDU>
From: John Grossi <qasama@WPI.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L%PURCCVM.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
Greetings to all and best of luck to everyone in your classes
especially those brothers at schools on quarter systems that are
nearing finals.
I've been reading what's been going on in quiet for the last couple of
weeks. One comment before I get started:
If I remember right there are about 30 all-male chapters, and one all-female
( I asked the same question Brother Gagliardi asked for a study I was doing)
The thing that you have to remember about Alpha Phi Omega is
that the power in this fraternity rests with the active undergraduate
chapters, it does not rest with the Jerry. We have the power to change
things, but as I just learned not 20 minutes ago in one of my classes
drastic change is not a good thing. I've also done a fair amount of
road-tripping to the chapters within easy drive of here. Each chapter
and campus has it's own personality, traditions that are built up over
time, while I may like visting Phi, and EZ the way they do things at
there schools would not fly with my chapter. A simple example is
Robert's Rules of Order, we don't use them here. (we have our own
system for voting), and could not imagine using them. Yet at those
chapters they use them, and run there meetings with them, and could
not imagine APO without them.
I would recommend that before you do something drastic, like
getting rid of the all-male chapters, or making wholesale changes in
ritual you take a step back from your own perceptions. We have
something like 251,000 brothers they range across all stripes what may
seem minor to you is a MAJOR issue to someone else. Rather try small scale
changes to achieve things, we are not under some sort of deadline. The
fraternity evolves over time, this much is true and can't be denied,
what was founded in 1925 is not what is here today. The thing you must
remember is that by fostering our diversity we make ourselves
stronger. And one small change can have major effects.
My own personal opinions on the issues (and they are only mine)
I feel that the all-male chapters should continue and go co-ed at the time of
their choosing. I would never force that upon them. Every chapter has the
right to decide there membership standards, and you do it every time you
vote on pledges. Many of those campuses also have things like OPA and GSS
so they are not denieing people the right to serve. Also I seem to remember
one thing when scanning Scott Begin's chapter rolls, some schools have been
granted two charters (I think the school was in NJ St. something or other
which had one for day division and one for evening division). So If a campus
does not have alternative outlets, then maybe the possibility should be
considered. I'm not sure of what more to say on this issue, my own opinions
are vague and I've not had a chance to hear the debate and see the issues and
this is just me thinking of some ideas off the top of my head. One of things
I have learned is that it's better to think of everything first then look at
them and pick the solution in the middle as a first guess....
PC-issues
Well I have my own personal prejudices on this issue, as the brother
who wrote the third verse of the toast song is an alum of my chapter
and I knew him rather well. (had to get that sig when I pledged) I do
feel that many people are offended by wording. The thing people
must understand is that it's a short coming of the language. It's not
the words that matter it's the meaning behind them.... but I've been to
schools where chapters are in danger of due to wording from both the
administration and student body. While wording is tradition and it's
our past, we also need to look towards the future....A way to look
towards our future is yet to be determined.
I also would like to note that people should not get so riled up over the
issues, Brother Covi is correct in noting that we don't even know if the
national convention will be considering those issues. Since only two people
are going to nationals from here I will be voting a delegate, and serving
on a reference comm (hopefully), and I know I'm not going to get PO'd over
something that is only talk. But I look forward to hearing the debate
and dealing with these issues in a manner constructive to all.
Brother Burns, I think you had great courage to say what you said, but you
had even greater courage to say you did not think first and only spoke from
your anger. I would also be willing to debate the issues with you at
nationals...
Several other comments:
WPI has 14 pledges this semester :)
I'm working on getting a region I listserv, hopefully I'll be able to
announce it this afternoon.
YiLFS
John "MuBear" Grossi
Omicron Iota #387
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Massachusetts
qasama@wpi.edu qasama@math.wpi.edu qasama@banach.wpi.edu
http://www.wpi.edu:8080/~apo/apo.html ftp://banach.wpi.edu/clubs/AphiO
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