[19251] in APO-L
Re: No Subject
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Laura Jacquez Valentine)
Mon Oct 5 16:00:18 1998
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 15:49:57 -0400
Reply-To: Laura Jacquez Valentine <jacquez+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU>
From: Laura Jacquez Valentine <jacquez+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <e59d3cc.36190390@aol.com>
Sister-brother, hold on.
I don't know about the rest of the female brothers here, but I'm not
going to lie back and take this kind of abuse from anyone, let alone a
member of APO.
First off, the most immediately relevant discussion: all-male chapters.
The gentleman's agreement is, essentially, a contract. We cannot
whimsically break a contract. I am a Kappa alum, a member of the first
chapter to induct women (with initials rather than names, as it was
technically "illegal" at that point to induct women), and Kappa had a
strong female contingent the entire time I was involved (and they still
do). And, while we've had our disagreements with all-male chapters over
the way they occasionally mistreat/ignore female brothers, for the most
part, there haven't been too many problems. People, given a chance,
cope, or learn to, with coed or all-male chapters. Incidentally, there
are also all-female chapters. Shall we kick them out, too? After all,
they must be treating men as subordinates...
A mixed coed/single-gender group is, I think, stronger for it. The
internal differences can be worked out, and help brothers to deal with
situations in reality. Women can suddenly find themselves the only
woman in an all-male group in reality, and I think that coed and
all-male chapters interacting and working together helps both sides
prepare for life in a way that few other groups allow for.
Second, the issue of Clinton. I do not and have never liked Clinton. I
did, at one point, like his stance on gay rights, but have since come to
regard him as either a liar or a traitor to that movement. I'm not
surprised that he committed perjury, but I am surprised that he was dumb
enough to do what he did with Ms. Lewinsky while he was being
investigated for Whitewater and sexual harassment. It's really
mind-bogglingly dumb, and even dumber to try and cover it up.
Stupidity, however, is not a crime, and neither is sex between
consenting adults. There is enough evidence that he did not force
(physically, emotionally, economically, etc.) Ms. Lewinsky into sexual
behavior that cries of sexual predator and harassment are unfounded. As
offensive as it may be for Clinton to have had sex with a woman only a
few years older than his daughter, it is not the same thing as having
sex with his daughter or with someone below the age of consent. Nor is
it the same as forcing a woman to have sex, by any of the many ways of
forcing.
While I disagree strongly with Clinton's choices, I do not think he has
committed any crime that warrants removing him from the membership
rolls. Removing him from the prominent position in the pledge handbook,
yes; membership rolls, no.
--laura
kappa '98
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 13:36:16 EDT
From: MeisterAu@AOL.COM
Clinton is a sexual predator. He is a perjurer. He should have his picture
posted at neighborhoods warning our children about him. He should be removed
from our membership. Additionally, chapters that are still all-male should be
removed. Any chapter that does not treat women as equals treats them as
subordinates. You need to wake up and face the facts. There were some
chapters in the past that wanted "traditions" and tried to keep blacks from
joining. But I guess that is ok from the standpoints posted here "because of
tradition".
Any sister that disagrees with the above and feels "let boys be boys" or "it
does not affect me" does not know what NO means and still lies back and enjoys
it. Stand up for our rights.
BABS
Alum of GG "Master Gold of the Bears"
