PENN STATE, UNIVERSITY PARK - Folks are still talking about the controversial photo that has sparked debate on Penn State's University Park campus.
Members of Penn State's Chi Omega sorority posted the picture to a social media site after a Mexican-themed Halloween party.
Two signs reading, "Will mow lawn for weed and beer" and "I don't cut grass, I smoke it," are front and center in the picture, which is continuing to bring controversy to the university's campus.
Chi Omega's National Headquarters have been working closely with Penn State's Panhellenic Council to decide how to handle the situation and Thursday, they have announced the chapter will be placed on probation, effective Monday.
Folks around the Penn State community said they hoped some action would be taken over the photo, and Thursday, they're getting their wish.
"This is quite bad. Especially with the large Hispanic population we have and then just to have them degrading them like this and then to put drug references in it, that's not cool," Chris Champi said.
And it's something Champi says needs to be addressed.
"This kind of behavior should not be tolerated at all," he said. "I mean, you can't just take a group of people and demean them like that, I think it's terrible."
Chi Omega's National Headquarters agree and Thursday, they officially put the sorority on probation.
"I guess the good that can come out of this is that this can open discussion and this can open dialogue," John Ochoa said. "Let people come up with solutions like this. The problem here is one of ignorance."
Ochoa is an Associate Professor of Spanish at Penn State. He says education is the key to moving forward.
"A solution implies education, implies people learning about what they don't know because this is an example of people revealing what they don't know," he said.
The Governing Council of the Chi Omega sorority handed down the probation Thursday.
The National President of Chi Omega, Letitia Fulkerson, says she's "disappointed in the choices made by the Nu Gamma Chapter members," and they are "taking this situation very seriously." She continues, "Chi Omega does not condone behavior that violates our organization's policy on human dignity."
The exact details of what the probation entails have yet to be disclosed.
Members of Penn State's Chi Omega sorority posted the picture to a social media site after a Mexican-themed Halloween party.
Two signs reading, "Will mow lawn for weed and beer" and "I don't cut grass, I smoke it," are front and center in the picture, which is continuing to bring controversy to the university's campus.
Chi Omega's National Headquarters have been working closely with Penn State's Panhellenic Council to decide how to handle the situation and Thursday, they have announced the chapter will be placed on probation, effective Monday.
Folks around the Penn State community said they hoped some action would be taken over the photo, and Thursday, they're getting their wish.
"This is quite bad. Especially with the large Hispanic population we have and then just to have them degrading them like this and then to put drug references in it, that's not cool," Chris Champi said.
And it's something Champi says needs to be addressed.
"This kind of behavior should not be tolerated at all," he said. "I mean, you can't just take a group of people and demean them like that, I think it's terrible."
Chi Omega's National Headquarters agree and Thursday, they officially put the sorority on probation.
"I guess the good that can come out of this is that this can open discussion and this can open dialogue," John Ochoa said. "Let people come up with solutions like this. The problem here is one of ignorance."
Ochoa is an Associate Professor of Spanish at Penn State. He says education is the key to moving forward.
"A solution implies education, implies people learning about what they don't know because this is an example of people revealing what they don't know," he said.
The Governing Council of the Chi Omega sorority handed down the probation Thursday.
The National President of Chi Omega, Letitia Fulkerson, says she's "disappointed in the choices made by the Nu Gamma Chapter members," and they are "taking this situation very seriously." She continues, "Chi Omega does not condone behavior that violates our organization's policy on human dignity."
The exact details of what the probation entails have yet to be disclosed.
Comments
Another thing... Is this what they learn in college now? Is this is community organizing 101. Make a fuss about nothing. Create problems out of nothing. Get the media involved. That%u2019s great. You bunch of freeloaders going to college on someone else%u2019s dime complaining about something that really nothing.
chris c.
December 6, 2012 at 9:30 pm
People need to quit being so stinking sensitive. What a bunch of wimpy people out there that can%u2019t take a joke.
I do not see why such a big deal is being made of this. It seems like the groups that get upset are simply looking for a reason to cry about something.
Get over it you bunch of whiny crybabies. If you don%u2019t like your group or race being stereotyped, then stop your people from doing the things that create the stereotype.
chris c.
December 6, 2012 at 9:26 pm
