[23642] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Logo Issue
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Christopher Stromberg)
Fri Mar 28 11:45:16 2003
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 08:48:23 -0800
Reply-To: Christopher Stromberg <cstrombe@stanford.edu>
From: Christopher Stromberg <cstrombe@stanford.edu>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <009201c2f545$8e529300$6701a8c0@HOMELESS>
Dan,
I don't think the objection (in most cases) is over change in general. I
think the objection is to change for change's sake. In other words, there
has not been (as far as I know) an outcry that our Coat of Arms is outdated
or offensive or has any other problem with it (in fact, it and the pin may
be the only APO traditions I have never heard an objection to, but that is
just a side-note). Given no reason (pressing or otherwise) to make a
change, why would the fraternity want to change?
Change, especially of a long-held tradition, is a painful process. Even
when there are arguably good reasons for the change, it is often difficult
for the organization and the individual members involved. Thus, most
people, given no compelling reason to make a change in an organization's
traditions, will choose not to make the change. Hence the motto, if it
ain't broke, don't fix it.
Now, I understand that you weren't suggesting a change to the National
Coat of Arms. The reaction that you have received may, in part, be
attributable to the fact that the Fraternity has been undergoing a number
of movements towards change in recent years, including some of them very
painful ones. These include, but are not limited, the Toast Song issue,
issues of gender neutrality in the rituals, and many others. These other
issues have been painful enough for the Fraternity. Some see these other
changes as change without good reason (hence the "arguably" good reasons
above). Many don't want to see another one thrown into the mix.
With all of that said, I would like to ask people to calm down just a
little bit. As noted, this was not even a proposal for a change to
anything, just a Brother asking for an opinion on an artist's rendition of
the Coat of Arms. Personally, I like the old one better. I've never like
the whole modern-stylized thing. But that is just my opinion. Would I
support the new version as a replacement for the National Coat of Arms, no,
for all of the reasons stated above. But that's not what he is asking for.
Chris Stromberg
Zeta Chapter
Stanford University
