Recently a freshman at the University of New Mexico named John Bundy was denied membership in the Christian fraternity Kappa Upsilon Chi because he is LDS and, therefore, not Christian. They suggested he go start an LDS fraternity instead. The fraternity is taking cover behind its First Amendment rights and the issue is a sticky one: On the one hand, student organizations have the freedom to select their members. On the other, they are not allowed to discriminate. And so it goes…
I’m not going to spout off about the hypocrisy of this club of Christians, except to say I hope their school and parents are embarrassed. Frankly, I don’t get why the kid wants to join their frat in the first place. Unless, of course, he was trying to reach out. Don’t bother, John. I’ve looked at some of these kids’ MySpace sites (yes, their parents should be very embarrassed). There’s a reason why the BYU campuses don’t have fraternities and sororities; they (the colleges) promote socially inclusive and all-welcoming atmospheres. Trying to get into a frat (apparently especially a Christian one) only invites negativity. I hope the boy isn’t going to try to make this his “Norma Rae moment.”
That said, I’m siding with the fraternity on this one. They formed a social group to share activities and experiences with people who think and feel as they do, and I don’t think they should be forced to include those who they’re at odds with. When I was in college several women went after a private social gentleman’s club in Salt Lake City, the Alta Club, claiming that its “men-only” rule was discriminatory, and in 1987 the women won. I remember feeling as I do now: If it were an all-women’s club and the plaintiffs were men, the court ruling would have been different– and if it were an all-women’s club I doubt if any men would sue. It really chapped my hide.
Of course, as Mormon notoriety is in vogue, the press is all over Brother Bundy’s story.
Drill, baby, drill.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Chris Bigelow // Sep 13, 2008 at 4:14 am
I don’t understand why Mormons want to be accepted by mainstream Christians so badly. We’re truly different from them and should want to stay that way. I’m not sure if Joseph Smith would chuckle or sigh.
2 queuno // Sep 13, 2008 at 4:19 am
I guess I’ve never been bothered by christians (small c) not thinking I’m one of them. In some ways, I think it helps our missionary efforts…
3 David // Sep 13, 2008 at 5:11 am
I’m with ya, Chris. As a return missionary from the fine state of North Carolina, I got a close-up and personal look at the majority of Christian faiths and, frankly, they can have their segregation. I think Brother Joseph would chuckle first, pause, then sigh.
queuno– maybe in some ways. In my area, at least, there were so many who didn’t like a particular doctrine in their church and listened to us to see if we scratched the itch. They still liked to think of themselves as “saved,” just saved and in the true church.
4 Karron // Sep 13, 2008 at 8:11 am
I have always hated the way feminist groups think that they should have the right to infiltrate any and all male groups, but heaven forbid that a man tries to enter into any of their hallowed halls. Like the women who go after all boys schools. They have a hissy fit when they can’t force their way in, but think it is OK if they have all girls schools. So much for equality.
Bundy will not get in, unless he does make a huge stink. Personally, I think he should find his group in the local institute classes, or start a BoM study group or social group – or find the local singles group to hang out with.
I live in the south, trust me, you cannot change the mind of a entrenched, generations old prejudiced Christian group down here. And I use the term Christian very loosely since most of them do not in any way reflect the teachings of the savior, only the teachings of the preacher or the people in charge.
As an aside, we move here at the beginning of summer, two of our neighbors invited us to church, both are in the same religious group but go to different churches. It was made clear that both of them felt their church was better, even though they are both from the same religious group. Very Christian.
I agree with you David, I understand your being chapped by the uneven status quo. I am too. And I happen to be female to boot.
5 cheryl // Sep 13, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I agree with Karron– the liberal feminist is a walking contradiction. They claim equality, but it’s just a cover for pride/power. I mean, I consider myself a feminist –one that believes the YW are just as capable as the YM to set up chairs and tables. But at the same time, I’m not an idiot. Men and women are different.
Sigh.
Mainstream Christianity doesn’t make sense to me. My friend has been in a consistent (and respectiful) dialogue with a Baptist Preacher (except it’s not officially a Baptist Church; they have Baptist “influences”) and she’s shared a lot with me of what he has said –none of it makes sense. Why we’re here, how we’re “saved”, etc. is more unbelievable to me than God appearing to Joseph Smith. It’s really weird. Oh! But we’re supposed to be the freaks, so whatever.
I did have one thought, though, about this fraternity thing. What if it had been a black man trying to get into a white fraternity? Or switch it: A white man trying to get into a Black fraternity?
Hypocrisy reigns supreme.
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