What TSM's Tweet Means for the Greek Community | The Odyssey Online
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Politics and Activism

What TSM's Tweet Means for the Greek Community

It was the totally wrong move that gives Greek life a chance to make the right ones.

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What TSM's Tweet Means for the Greek Community

The popular site, Instagram, and Twitter account Total Sorority Move is famous for its daring, borderline raunchy content that gets thousands of shares and retweets a day.

Articles such as “45 Thoughts Going Through Your Head While Giving a Blow Job,” “23 Things Only Girls With Big Butts Can Relate To,” and “103 Thoughts You Have While He’s Not Texting You Back” reign supreme as some of the most popular columns of all time on the site.

Based on the site’s content, I suppose we shouldn’t be expecting much from the site in terms of political correctness, or dare I say class.

However, TSM sent out a tweet recently (now deleted from cyberspace) that sent its followers into a frenzy, prompting some of them to swiftly unfollow the account in protest.

Obviously mocking the #BlackLivesMatter campaign set forth after George Zimmerman was acquitted after Trayvon Martin’s death, TSM not only encouraged the stereotype of heavy alcohol use among the Greek life community, but also the notion of extreme racism and discrimination.

Greek Life has been placed under a microscope by national chapter headquarters, the media, and universities across the nation for specific instances of racism occurring across the country in recent months. The University of Oklahoma chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was promptly removed from the campus after a video of its members reciting a racist chant on a bus surfaced. Last December, UPenn’s chapter of Phi Delta Theta was suspended after being accused of racism and sexism after featuring a dark skinned sex doll in a holiday photo. Penn State’s Chi Omega was closed following an offensive photo of sisters holding offensive signs and wearing sombreros and mustaches, the final straw after being on probation since December of 2012.

There is a never-ending feed of bad publicity plaguing the Greek community due to the lack of judgment of just a few ignorant members. According to the Fraternity Advisor, there are over 9 million Greek members in the nation, accounting for 85 percent of Fortune 500 company executives, 76 percent of all Congressmen and Senators, and even the first female Senator.

Nine million members, roughly equating to the population of Sweden.

Unfortunately in any group, niche, or organization there will always be members that do not represent the group well. Blaming all of Greek Life for abominations committed by a select few is counterproductive.

Although TSM may have removed the offensive tweet, their audience is still reeling from the blatantly disrespectful, insensitive remark.

This tweet may have moved the Greek community two steps back, but conscious efforts must be made now more than ever to reverse the reputation of organizations that thrive on philanthropy and community engagement. In my opinion, I don’t see this as a disadvantage. I see this as an opportunity.

We need to continue to work together in order to create a community with members that are all accepting, loving and respectful of one another. We need to ensure that Greek life is a beneficial, unforgettable and enriching experience for its brothers and sisters. We need to vow to speak up when we witness instances of hate, racism or any form of discrimination be it race, sexual orientation, or anything else arise.

Hate may never be fully eradicated from this country, its institutions, or from the hearts of its people. However, we are 9 million strong. We have 9 million chances to get it right, and 9 million opportunities to make a change.

This means our work has just begun.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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