University of Michigan Greek Community's Reponse to Racist Chant by Members of University of Oklahoma's Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chapter
The University of Michigan Greek Community is disgusted by this shameful act of racism and ignorance, which represents a greater lack of cultural competency in the University of Oklahoma’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, an organization that is not currently recognized at our institution. The mentality presented in the video reflects poorly on their entire fraternity, their Greek Community, and many Greek communities across the nation.
As leaders on our campus, we are challenged to engage and educate our members by offering programming regarding cultural appropriation, inclusive language, and bystander intervention. We continually develop intake and recruitment techniques that encourage a more diverse membership that reflects the Michigan community. We are also dedicated to the work needed to proudly emphasize the already-existing spaces in our community where students have felt safe and comfortable expressing their identities.
Our four councils have individually and collectively discussed our need to dig deeper into the inclusivity conversation. Our community has taken steps to broaden the scope of our work collectively at the executive level. We have, and continue to expect every chapter to annually host or co-host an educational event relating to diversity and cooperate with another student organization to promote campus partnerships that are not in the fraternity and sorority community. Furthermore, we have plans to develop a student-led task force for issues that involve inclusivity issues in the Greek community.
The University of Michigan Greek Community applauds the action being taken against the students responsible for this detrimental behavior. We look forward to strengthening our relationships with other campus entities that contribute to the greater diversity and inclusion effort, and we embrace the challenge of creating a more inclusive Michigan for future students.
Interfraternity Council President - Alex Krupiak
Multicultural Greek Council President - Kelly Gee
National Pan-Hellenic Council President - Chantel Blackmon
Panhellenic Assocation President - Maddy Walsh
Interfraternity Council Vice President of Public Relations - Sean Pitt
Multicultural Greek Council Publicity Chair - Khris Sanchez
National Pan-Hellenic Council Publicity Chairs - Germain Burchfield and Reid McManus
Panhellenic Association Vice President of Public Relations - Laura Gilinsky