When the Wheel editorial board sat down to discuss this week’s staff editorial, we found ourselves repeatedly coming back to two philanthropic events that occurred this past weekend: Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta) sorority’s Greek Physique and Emory Pride’s Drag Show. The former was an all-male pageant competition between fraternities to support Theta’s philanthropy, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the latter a showcase of the drag performances of numerous campus organizations. All of the proceeds from the evening went to the local charity Lost-N-Found, a philanthropy that aims to support and find shelter for homeless Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) youth.
Then we realized that a juxtaposition of the two events is appropriate because they were both billed as philanthropic and performative – but each took very different approaches in terms of what messages they projected to the University community. The Drag Show attempted to create a safe space for gender expression while breaking down gender norms and hierarchies. Organizations ranging from Residence Life and Housing to the Student Programming Council (SPC) – and including undergraduate, graduate students and staff – performed dances and songs in costumes mimicking the opposite gender.
In contrast, Greek Physique promoted the very norms the Drag Show was trying to deconstruct. Many of the acts called out fraternities and sororities – and even specific members of those fraternities and sororities by name. One member of Kappa Alpha Theta was called out specifically for having “tamed” her boyfriend during one act, while another performer from the Sigma Nu fraternity listed off several “physically desirable” sororities and then referenced another as “having good personalities.” Moreover, the pageant was extremely heteronormative in a number of ways. Only male-identified students in Greek life were allowed to participate. Some performers engaged in discriminatory behavior, calling out other fraternities for being “gay,” as if it is a derogatory word. In particular, participants repeatedly referred to Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) fraternity as “Gay-T-O.” Moreover, performers made light of the philanthropic nature of the event to justify some of their behavior, saying it was “for the kids.”
According to College senior and the event’s Chief Marketing Officer Celeste Banks, the performers were instructed several times to keep their acts “politically correct” and were even asked to submit scripts to event leaders. Apparently, such preventative measures were not enough to keep representatives from some fraternities from using the event as an excuse to air callous and poorly-written humor. It is unfortunate that the inventiveness of some acts – such as Kappa Alpha Psi’s dance routine, for instance – were overshadowed by the offensiveness and thoughtlessness of others. We at the Wheel feel that the performances at Greek Physique were offensive and inappropriate and certainly representative of neither the overall Greek community nor Emory’s values. While we do not feel there is a problem with Greek-exclusive events, it is highly concerning that an event that was supposed to promote an admirable philanthropic organization, CASA, perpetuated negative Greek life stereotypes, ignited social warfare and displayed blatantly prejudiced behavior.
The stark contrast between Greek Physique and the Drag Show is a great launch pad for a discussion about inclusivity and tolerance. We commend the Drag Show for inviting all members of the community to participate – including other campus organizations and University administrators. We highly encourage Theta to institute a more rigorous approval process for Greek Physique in the future in order to ensure the event is a safe space – one that is aligned with the values of Emory. We would also love to see the Drag Show grow as an event but in the future would recommend that event organizers hold more rehearsals and enforce a time limit on all acts. These measures would ensure that the performances are as polished as possible.
As ethically-engaged members of the Emory community, we ought to hold each other accountable for causing harm. We all should also hold each other to a higher standard of promoting safe spaces on campus.
The above staff editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel‘s editorial board.
The Emory Wheel was founded in 1919 and is currently the only independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University. The Wheel publishes weekly on Wednesdays during the academic year, except during University holidays and scheduled publication intermissions.
The Wheel is financially and editorially independent from the University. All of its content is generated by the Wheel’s more than 100 student staff members and contributing writers, and its printing costs are covered by profits from self-generated advertising sales.
Money was raised. CASA was able to benefit from the event. The Wheel doesn’t even describe the charity that Greek Physique supported, they only mention name, while mentioning a solid description of the Drag show’s beneficiaries. CASA supports abused and neglected children, by the way. I can guarantee that these abused and neglected children don’t care that a couple of jokes were told, PLAYFULLY, at a couple of fraternities’ (full of FULLY GROWN MEN) expenses in order for them to receive the representation they need to stop being assaulted within their own home.
The Wheel has this serious trend of being the most self-righteous newspaper, acting as if they speak for the majority of Emory. They don’t. They speak for a horrible minority of the campus that is overly sensitive and blind to any views but their own and for the most part only expresses the views that they do because they are the “easy” ones to take. It is not courageous to stand up for a drag show in 2013. It is expected. It IS courageous to stand up for a charity event, getting ripped apart by a group of people UNREPRESENTATIVE of the campus, that might have been a little bit politically incorrect but doesn’t actually hurt anyone, and actually DOES HELP a lot of people. Life doesn’t give a a crap if you are slightly offended at being name-called. All articles like this do is reinforce the idea that college kids are getting horrible life experience because they think they can sue someone over every little boo-boo.
How can anyone support this crap? Its an embarrassment that this gets published while the editors pat themselves on the back for standing up to something. Disgusting.
Yeah guys, these fraternity members are fully grown men. This means they can handle being called GAY and it is therefore right!!!!
Dat Heteronormativity doe
The fact that you think your argument is valid is hilarious and a little sad because you should be at least little bit educated.
Sure, props to Theta for raising money for children. That really is great. But they should have been able to just as well without making slurs against certain sexual orientations. Maybe kids do think the jokes are funny, but that is exactly what we as a society need to stop, or else we’re going to raise yet another generation of people who hate other people things out of there control (kinda sounds similar to racism huh?)
People are people and we all have feelings. Life is hard, and it does suck, but that’s no reason we should try and make life worse in a plae we live, a place we should feel comfortable.
So stop getting your Theta panties all in a bunch and grow up.
Actually people who are overly sensitive and forgo common sense in the name of political correctness are the ones who should “grow up”
So rite. GROW UP, ppl!!!! If “common sense” tells you to be hateful towards ppl who are different, B HATEFUL!!!! duh
right? society is trying to control everything! it’s raising money for a good cause, we can put down whoever we want 2! ugh elitism, amirite?
Actually agree with the wheel’s editorial board for once
I never said it was “right.” But it doesn’t warrant TWO self-righteous opinion pieces and backlash so you guys can get good publicity for standing up to “negative Greek life stereotypes, social warfare and blatantly prejudiced behavior.”