Alpha Sigma Phi, you’ve done it again. You managed to cause another outrage over something so stupid as a robe because a lack of knowledge, understanding, and common sense.
Now, I may be a part of the very few Fraternity men who don’t go crazy over rituals. It’s just not me. Don’t get me wrong--it has a very special place in my heart, but I’m not the kind of person who screams: "Kill me and use my blood in a ritual!" Most fraternity men don’t fully understand the ritualistic traditions, so I don’t expect the outside world too either, especially when out of context.
Since I’m not a brother of Alpha Sigma Phi, I can’t be 100 percent sure that their robes weren’t or aren't used in a secret Ku Klux Klan ritual, however I am 99.999% sure that the robes weren't even close to being racist. The robes are used for so many more applications; just do some basic Googling if you care that much because now everybody’s secrets are on the internet.
But the hoods. That damn hood. If the robe was hoodless, then nobody would have even given a damn. The unfortunate soul was taking a poorly-decided Snapchat and didn’t think there would be backlash.
In the same way as Fight Club, there are only three rules about Ritual:
1. Don’t share anything about Ritual.
2. DON’T SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT RITUALS.
3. Don’t have your damn phones out posting pictures about rituals.
How damn stupid do you have to be to post this on social media?! But let's not forget that the boy who did this isn't even a real brother--he’s just a colony member! Clearly anyone with half a brain who went to a history lesson and knows nothing about Greek life, would think this is about the KKK. I mean it's really not that farfetched considering this is the same school where Sigma Alpha Epsilon made their infamous racist bus chant. If you're going to be that stupid, don't join a fraternity. Realistically, you’re dragging your letters and House GPA through the mud.
According to local news station KOCO, Jabar Shumate, the vice president of OU University Community, issued this statement:
University officials have contacted their national fraternity, and they are looking into the matter.
The local chapter is colonizing, and they received different colored robes from their national fraternity for the initiation process.
While the photo creates a confusing appearance, we are still working with the local and national fraternity to understand this issue and the organization's history, meaning and use of the different color robes. It appears that no racial symbolism was intended.
Another useless uproar over nothing. Also, if you're going to get mad at the people who sent in the pictures, don't waste your breath. They did nothing wrong, and these fools need to learn not to share secrets. The only good thing that hopefully comes out of this though is to get rid OF THE DANG HOODS.
