Many individuals, companies, and organizations show their support for breast cancer in a multitude of ways during its month of awareness—October. Some people wear pink, donate money, or host events to raise awareness for breast cancer. At Rutgers University, Zeta Tau Alpha raises awareness for their national philanthropy, breast cancer education and awareness, by having fraternities decorate their houses to help support breast cancer. Now the school is saying one fraternity, Theta Delta Chi, has taken it too far and has been asked to remove their signs and decorations.
What exactly was so offensive about their signs? Well, I wasn't so sure at first when I saw the picture. However, some people were offended by their signs saying "TDX hearts Ta-Tas." People took to Facebook to express their dismay. Stating things such as "Frats like TDX will do this kind of garbage, put signs sexualizing women and sexualizing disease."
The members of the fraternity removed their signs after the Dean of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs responded to complaints made and told them to do so. I find the universities decision completely laughable.
Do they not realize that these boys were using terms/phrases from actual breast cancer foundations? Save the ta-tas is a popular foundation aiming to fight breast cancer using laughter and fun. Does everyone remember those popular boobies bracelets? Those were from the Keep A Breast Foundation.
So because it is a frat using the words "ta-tas" and "boobs" on their signs for breast cancer awareness that is suddenly not okay? They can't reference popular foundations? If it was a sorority with a sign that said that I don't think there would be any backlash, it wouldn't be viewed as sexualizing women or the disease, it'd simply be seen as raising awareness.
People need to focus on the good this is doing, instead of trying to find the negative in everything fraternities do. Focus on the fact that a frat even chose to get involved in raising awareness and took the time to decorate their house and make signs.
The school should have never asked them to remove their signs. In our society today, there is a strong negative attitude towards fraternities, so whenever a complaint is made against them officials quickly jump on board and put an end to whatever is happening. This is not something that is worthy of a complaint or taking action against, you can't appease everyone just because people are sensitive towards Greek life.
Props to these boys for actually participating in Zeta's philanthropy (a positive of Greek Life people tend to ignore) and shame on the school for making them remove their sings. If it is that offensive, then talk to Julia Fikse the founder of Save the Ta-Tas.
