[24307] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Toast Song
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jason Risner)
Tue May 25 12:40:47 2004
Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 12:40:09 -0400
Reply-To: Jason Risner <zoomer69@mail.com>
From: Jason Risner <zoomer69@mail.com>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <94ED6ED1AA21A346909482DCA8D4E17D0DEBC6C3@ddcexch.ddcnet.detroitdiesel.com>
Quote: "But the cold reality is that change will not occur so long as there
is division among those desiring a change to the Toast Song.
I would encourage all of those who feel strongly on the issue to contact
each other offline and see if there cannot be a common ground/medium found.
I agree with many of the points made in support of advocating change, but
the burden is (and rightly so) on the side advocating change. There must be
unity in the message and change proposal or history will repeat itself, over
and over again if required."
Great suggestion. Here are some things anyone wishing to change the song
should do:
* Educate yourself on the song and the issues surrounding it. Very few who
propose changing the toast song lack a complete understanding of how the
song became what it is today, in part because the chapters fail to educate
their pledges and brothers properly about it.
How many pledges understand the issue before they become an active? How many
ill-advised proposals to change the song come about because of this lack of
understanding?
Understand the issue so that you know how to effect constructive change.
* Take the time to construct a proposal that addresses the issues - don't be
another one of the knee-jerk proposals that waste our time. Some of the
things your proposal should consider include:
- How is the current toast song effective at building morale and bringing
brothers together? Or, is it ineffective? Why?
- Would changing it to a "more inclusive" version help recruiting and
retention?
- Would a changed song bring the fraternity closer, or just continue to fuel
the controversy?
- Would an "offensive" song that compels brothers to put more personal
investment into the fraternity be a better choice than a non-offensive song
that draws brothers who don't put a personal investment in the fraternity?
- How many people become an active despite being "offended" by a
"non-inclusive" song, then quit when the song doesn't change? Is it the
fraternity's fault for not changing the song, or the brother's for not
knowing what he/she is joining?
Bottom line: convince people how your version of the toast song will help
the fraternity grow and prosper and build unity, and maybe people will
actually consider changing it
- Jason Risner
Epsilon Lambda alum
