SHAME ON SWAT: The vote on banning frats at Swarthmore reeks of intolerance

<p>I have to use my first post on this site to thank the OP for this thread. We are from the UK, but S2 is adamant he wants to study for his undergraduate degree in the US. My mission is therefore now to do as much research as I can to make sure that we do not, God forbid, waste the application fee it will cost applying to an unsuitable college/university, or even worst, apply, get accepted, and then make the mistake of actually going to such a place.</p>

<p>The OP’s post helped me cross this college off my list. My view is that OP is highly opinionated with a blind sense of entitlement - someone who thinks others are not that intelligent. The post, to say the least, was manipulative. More importantly, it failed to appreciate both sides of the coin and look at things in a balanced way. Unfortunately for me, ‘extremism’ or shades of it, is a bit of a turn off.</p>

<p>Students were going to have a vote (democracy???), and a parent comes out with a post like that. Wow. </p>

<p>BTW, we don’t have Frats etc. in the UK, and so prior to researching schools for S2, I had no view about them, one way or another.</p>

<p>Anyway, my fear was that OP’s son was probably like OP - otherwise, how did OP get so riled up… Also, if he is like OP, and it is true that “birds of a feather…”. I then wondered how big his friendship group was, and thought, whatever the number, in a small community like that, it would probably be influential. That just seemed far too unpleasant for us to take a chance with. </p>

<p>I know that perhaps even if my thoughts are accurate (and they might not be), that OP’s son and friends might only be a small minority in the College, but when you have a list of equally good Colleges that you need to whittle down, even the tiniest of things can make a difference.</p>

<p>So whilst I might not like that OP garnered such negative emotions in me from the post, I am nevertheless grateful for it. Thanks OP.</p>

<p>@Researchmum
As you do your college research, I wouldn’t use a single post on CC as a determining factor. You’re going to find plenty of highly opinionated folks on these boards (I think its a requirement to post?). </p>

<p>Good luck in your search.</p>

<p>Researchmum, what Gator says is very true. It would be a shame to base any decision for or against a school based on random postings here. This is just one small sample. Your son may decide Swarthmore is not for him, but for reasons other than the posts found here. College Confidential is just another Speaker’s Corner, nothing more.</p>

<p>Many of the people I know here (upperclassmen) have looked at this past semester with confusion and disappointment - but that’s just it: it’s one bad semester. In general, people love it here and get along, but something must have been in the air this semester. I’m not trying to sway anyone one way or the other, but like above posters have said, it’s no use judging a school based on these things.
I also think that researchmum may have a slightly skewed perspective on this - it’s very hard to get all the facts when the only ones circulating are angry posts. The truth is that fraternity members felt targeted by a small group of students who spoke out in a pretty hostile way without much information or basis for doing so (their leader even admitted it at one point).</p>

<p>moonman676,</p>

<p>Wisdom comes to all of us in different ways. Your observations are honest and earnest. Swarthmore is a school where many are finding their voices. That takes time and patience, and no one should judge along the way. In a middle school choir, many screech, but in that process (a school like Swarthmore believes) no one should criticize, but still it shouldn’t drown out the voices of others. You must speak up. We are in a time of many voices. Some discourage and find fault - and that is increasingly easy to do. Encourage your community. It is strong, diverse and full of wisdom.</p>

<p>@gator88NE; @GvaMom - thank you:).</p>