<p>If you're implying that I am this "troll" then you are dead wrong. I work in one of the administrative buildings and I created a new account for anonymity. I understand you're rushing to protect Vanderbilt but you shouldn't try to mislead people. There is a problem here and there's no point in trying to hide it. The school is working towards changing that but if you're trying to discredit what I've been posting look beyond your small circle.</p>
<p>Obviously you know every Jewish kid on campus.</p>
<p>I never said you were a troll; the person with the moniker "thesearch" is a troll. I do not know every Jewish student on campus, but I know around 15 and all of them are big fans of Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>"The threads that rank fraternities and sororities have had some pretty awful comments from kids-- disparaging to Jews, women, and minorities. How overt is prejudice at Vandy, in and outside the Greek world? Are these kids just a few pranksters/bad apples?"</p>
<p>Why do I get the impression that these provocative types of posts based on slim anecdotal evidence are just an attempt to further agendas seeking to increase the enrollment numbers of the "offended" group. Accuse a school of something and hope they react by continuing a program to increase preferential enrollment. NEWS:</a> Percentage of Jewish students increases 10 percent in four years | InsideVandy</p>
<p>Can't we get beyond these politics of personal destruction?</p>
<p>^?? We we're talking about the problem with the student body... Nothing negative has been said about the administration. I'm not going to say which office I work in but I absolutely love the people here. A lot of the people I have spoken with do feel that many students at Vanderbilt share the same myopic views and have been working towards changing that.</p>
<p>it seems to me that everyone is way too focused on something that they don't even have to be a part of. If you're against racism and being prejudicial, then don't take part in it and don't be that type of person...I highly doubt that Vandy is any different than any other college campus, and besides, college is what you make of it-if you want to find racism, pathetic friends, i'm sure you will. However, if you are your own person and don't play follow the leader your whole life i'm sure that college will be much more fulfilling. Where are you ever gonna get in life if you block your self off from the real world?
I cant speak personally about Vandy because i'm not a student there but I'm an incocming freshman trying to make a decision and this seems so ridiculous.
Well said dixie</p>
<p>The only way to bring about change is to be a part of it. I absolutely understand that not everyone wants to go out on the limb that this requires. After all, if things are perceived as "better" somewhere else, maybe it seems like going to that place is a wiser choice. However, if everyone who likes Vanderbilt but is worried about anti-semitism & racism stays away out of concern that it is changing but hasn't yet changed enough ... well, how is the change ever going to happen? It's something worth thinking about.</p>
<p>10char
[quote]
it seems to me that everyone is way too focused on something that they don't even have to be a part of...I cant speak personally about Vandy because i'm not a student there
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Umm....</p>
<p>dixie33 props to ya. everyone should read that post...</p>
<p>departed, vanderbilt's retention rate is 96% -- one of the highest in the country. If you are a student, you represent a very small faction who is unhappy with the school. </p>
<p>Second, there is no antisemitism at the school. The original poster is a Jewish mother who was worried if there was (due to postings on an unanimous messageboard). I am friends with lots of Jewish students (many who are active in the Hillel) and they can confirm this. Mirimom's daughter is enjoying her Vanderbilt experience (maybe she should listen to her and not anonymous message boards).</p>
<p>I am not unhappy with the school, I am actually very happy. I am simply pointing out the problems with a portion of the student body and addressing a parent's concerns.</p>
<p>im not saying not to be a part of the change.. thats what im saying. I think that pif people are so concerned with racism and antisemitism, then they should NOT TAKE PART IN IT.
thats it and maybe ppl should grow up and not make decisions based on what a few worried parents are saying.</p>
<p>Pumpkinmuffin, my post appeared right after yours, but I wasn't actually responding to your post. I was responding to others before. I do understand where you are coming from!</p>
<p>Depends on what you mean by antisemitism. There aren't any Hitler lovers going around actively looking for Jewish students but it's wrong to say that there is no antisemitism. Just read some of the other threads here that have MANY different responders all ranking frats/sororities.
"Lambda...Delta(just an example- not real) has too man jews, third tier, it's falling"
People do tend to judge others based on their Greek standings though and a lot of the stereotypes raised here are surprisingly accurate. (Before anyone else takes a shot on let me say that NOT EVERYONE in frats/sororities are like this).</p>
<p>OK here's how it works. I've been talking to a few friends about this Internet Discussion Board issue. Essentially, the better your fraternity and/or sorority, the more racist and antisemitic it is probably going to be. That's what they say.</p>
<p>I'm guessing as Vanderbilt because more Jewish and Minoritied, some of that might change, but there will probably always be some kids from old southern families that fit that mold.</p>
<p>Wow, Palmettotree. "Better" ... I think you & I have radically differing ideas of what "better" means.</p>
<p>
[quote]
OK here's how it works. I've been talking to a few friends about this Internet Discussion Board issue. Essentially, the better your fraternity and/or sorority, the more racist and antisemitic it is probably going to be. That's what they say.
[/quote]
Didn't someone else say there's Jews in every fraternity?</p>
<p>As an upperclassman who has finished all his exams and now has time to waste on this site, I'll have to agree with both sides on this issue. Compared to other Tier 1 institutions is Vanderbilt more racist? Probably a little more. The kids posting racist stuff on JuicyCampus are serious idiots because it only makes the administration more determined to change the environment. But if you're black, Asian, or hispanic and choose Vandy you'll like it. Every niche and type of person is represented here...some obviously more than others. Also, Vandy can't change if every time an open-minded kid who would be a positive influence to the campus is too scared to come. </p>
<p>Although when I walk around campus there seems to be alot of white guys in short white khaki shorts, sandals, and the same pair of sunglasses hanging around their necks. There are other white guys wearing short pink khaki shorts, and short plaid shorts. I kid, I kid.</p>
<p>Jews aren't in every fraternity, but they are in most.</p>
<p>As far as overt racism and antisemitism, it doesn't really exist. Racist and antisemitic comments are uttered only in familiar social circles. I would give you an anecdote of a couple of times where that wasn't the case, but I don't think that would be representative or encourage you to come.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure there are jews in every fraternity except maybe SAE. KA, considered a very southern fraternity and one of the best on campus has many jews (including their president next year) and an african american. the only segregation on this campus is self segregation.</p>
<p>Well, to be honest abc, I know some some guys in KA at other Southern schools where it's "good" and they don't really think very highly of KA at Vanderbilt for those very reasons so it'll be interesting seeing the Vandy attitude towards it. A Jewish guy from my school is an SAE at Vandy too so I guess that rules all of them out assuming you've done your research on the others.</p>
<p>many people on here dismissively blame self-segregation. but that's exactly the issue. Vandy seems more self-segregated than other schools. We don't have to talk about specific overt instances or loud anit-gay riots or anything. The issue here is just the general environment and social atmosphere.</p>