Somehow, the old adage, “boys will be boys,” fails to justify the recent actions of a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity at USC. An email originating within this fraternity is circulating around the USC campus, causing quite a stir amongst its readers.
The content of the email reads like a bad Tucker Max rip-off, promoting sexism, racism and the degradation of women.
“I will refer to females as ‘targets’. They aren't actual people like us men. Consequently, giving them a certain name or distinction is pointless,” the email reads.
The author of the email has deemed his work a “gullet report.” He catalogues women with a demeaning rating system and offers skewed advice to his brothers on how to be a more efficient “cocksman.” (How creative, bro.)
“In conclusion the gullet report will strengthen brotherhood and help pin-point [girls] more inclined to put-out. From my experience when a female goes Ksig she typically repeats,” the email reads.
According to the USC Daily Trojan, the fraternity is under investigation from their national organization, which will subsequently be followed by action from the University.
Though I think this was written more for shock and entertainment value than to express any legitimate hate, it is this utter absence of tact amongst fraternity members that gives them such a bad reputation on campus.
To be fair, this email doesn’t reflect the mentality of everyone who has ever joined a fraternity; undoubtedly there are individuals involved in Greek Life who are upstanding citizens, good students and moral human beings.
I’d like to think there are some black sheep among the backward hats. However, it does perpetuate almost every single “frat-bro” stereotype and begs the question, when will these guys grow up? Have some class guys. How many times do we have to read about stories of a fraternity hazing or sexual misconduct?
Though not involved in this particular case, the fraternities on Alpha Drive here at ASU are no strangers to controversy.
An investigation done by The State Press last spring found our very own Sigma Chi has a history of being on probation and has been under investigation for sexual assault and promoting an environment of drug and alcohol abuse that leads to such accusations.
This email and the offensive YouTube video from Alexandra Wallace of UCLA, are part of a larger picture when speaking in terms of the First Amendment to the Constitution, freedom of speech.
Collectively as a nation, we both value and abuse this right probably more so than any others. (Just ask Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck.)
However, we are also extending the same freedom to ignore any information or rhetoric that we deem as unpleasing. Hateful messages like this cannot necessarily be ignored. However, we’d be crying a different tune if we weren’t allowed to make them at all.
Reach Ben at Bkarris@asu.edu
