Letter: Racist, homophobic actions tear down fraternity facade

Editor,

I am writing in response to Ronnie Garcia's letter in Thursday's Daily Lobo. I think Garcia misunderstands why some of us don't want fraternities on our campus. It is not that the University is forcing fraternities off campus because of stereotypes that students or administrators may believe, but instead, because of the stereotypes that fraternity members have about society - that is, their ideas of what it is to be masculine and heterosexual.

The culture of fraternities reinforces positions of inequality in which fraternity members maintain power over others - brothers over pledges, men over women and masculine men over effeminate ones. Fraternity values, beliefs and practices epitomize this power structure and help to reinforce their perceived position in society as the supreme patriarchy. Emphasizing sexual prowess and a narrow concept of what it is to be a man - including strength, toughness, fearlessness, competitiveness, dominance, ability to withstand pain and humiliation and an obedience to the group and superiors - while de-emphasizing caring and sensitivity guarantees that all members will hold the same stereotype of masculinity and heterosexuality. UNM does not share these opinions on how society should be ordered, so it is kicking fraternities out when they show their true misogynistic, homophobic and racist colors.

Fraternities encourage community service and moral development, but their emphasis on the good they provide is inconsequential, because the University now provides ample opportunity to serve through preprofessional, honorary, political, religious, ethnic, cultural or special interest organizations, all of which have never excluded participation due to sex, sexual orientation, race or disability. These groups never use alcohol as a weapon, violate women sexually, humiliate blind kids or use Nazi-themed vandalism.

One can never say that all fraternities or all fraternity members act like the newsworthy few, but to condone even one act like we've seen in the past from an institution connected to the University is one too many. Fraternities are a front for crime and sexual deviance, and I hope they continue to slip up, tearing down their facade and showing their genuine nature, so we are not forced to be associated with them any longer.

Carsen Bentley

UNM student