[9580] in APO-L
THE GENDER WAR RAGES ON
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (mlmims@MAILBOX.SYR.EDU)
Mon Oct 3 11:50:42 1994
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 11:41:34 EDT
Reply-To: mlmims@MAILBOX.SYR.EDU
From: mlmims@MAILBOX.SYR.EDU
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L%PURCCVM.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
My Brothers
THe membership policies of a chapter are up to that chapter. Personally,
Phi chapter did indeed become co-ed in 1976 and had a little sister program for
several years with every intention of chartering a Gamma Sigma Sigma Chapter.
THe CHAPTER and the Little sisters chose to become BROTHERS. (The definition of
the word Brotherhood as told by the greek origins is together. THe english
language amoung others have given this word gender)
IF someone suddenly told me that as President, it was my responsibility
to see that the membership opportunities had to be changed to admit sssquirrels
or rabbits or horses because someone other than the active membership of Phi
chapter felt it was necessary, You can imagine I would fight this mandate with
all that I could. As for being a woman referred to as Brother: Well, when I
Pledged this organization. I made a choice. I was aware that I would be refered
to as BRother Marilyn Mims. It was not a blind decision. I knew what I was
getting myself into.
THe point I am trying to make is although every chapter that is active
shares a common belief in the three cardinal principles of Alpha Phi Omega and
the ideals behind it all, every chapter is still unique and does things so
very differently than everyone else. Chapters like Delta and Nu Mu work just as
hard as chapters that are co-ed. The thing that brings us together is our
common sense of purpose not the perameters for membership set by individual
chapters. It doesn't matter what bathroom you use at McDonald's, my brothers,
or what the sign on the front of that door says. What matters is that we have
taken the time to make one small piece of the universe exactly as is should be
so that in time, we may be able to make the entire universe exactly as it
should be.
Marilyn Mims
PhI Chapter
Syracuse University
President
These opinions are not the property nor the responsibility of Phi Chapter, the
makers of Tylonel, or of the Keebler elves. They belong solely to me and I
welcome your comments.
