Fraternity member sees women as "targets"

March 10, 2011 |
Valor

(Caution: Contains explicit language)
With groups, such as A Call to Men, Men Can Stop Rape and the Family Violence Prevention Fund’s Coaching Boys into Men, actively working to engage boys and men to end violence against women, it would suffice to say that we have come a long way in the movement to end violence against women. However, once in a while — or frankly, more often than we’d like — we are reminded that we still have a LONG way to go.
Fraternity’s are a large part of many university campuses. For many, when we think of “frat boys” we think: sexist, egotistical, misogynist, players and slackers. Though many fraternities have attempted to dispel those stereotypes, USC’s Kappa Sigma comes along and shows us that many fraternities continue to epitomize those very same stereotypes.
Jezebel, an online forum focused on women’s interest, posted an article called Textbook Stupidity, exposing a leaked email composed by a member of USC’s Kappa Sigma chapter where he describes women as “targets,” not “actual people.” His explicit email goes on to describe “key terms,” or strategies, men need to use to become a successful “Cocksman,” and, in one of the most disgusting descriptions I’ve heard, describes a rating system to help other men understand how “successful” he has been.

The scale is a simple 1-10 ranking system, with outliers existing up to a -5. Anything worse than that and I suggest you go find the nearest cliff and end your sorry putz existence. You don’t deserve to use your cock anymore and you don’t deserve to live your life.

He also describes certain “rules” that a guy “must follow,” basically to help  avoid “instances of litigation and lawsuits.” The #1 rule being

Non-consent and rape are two different things. There is a fine line, so make sure not to cross it.

The email is not just disgustingly sexist but racist as well.  The writer not only uses “pie” to describe a women’s specific body part, but uses the same idiotic pie reference to describe women ethnically. But it doesn’t end there. To this he adds:

*Don’t fuck middle-eastern targets. Exhibit some patriotism and have some pride. You want your cock smelling like falafel? Filth.

Yes, disgusting and offensive don’t even BEGIN to describe this! Jezebel reports that Mitchell Wilson, executive director of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity spoke with the Daily Trojan, and released this statement:

“The content [of the e-mail] is contrary to everything [Kappa Sigma stands] for and we are not going to allow individuals to attempt to tarnish our name in any form or fashion … We will pursue this as far as we can.”
“Obviously we are appalled that [the e-mail is] associated in any way with our name because the e-mail is disgusting and offensive … We are going to do our best to identify who the author is and hold the person accountable.”

Messages and attitudes that condone sexual assault, sexist mentality, racism and the objectification of women are constant; however, this boarders on hatred of women. There’s an ounce of relief that Wilson, as well as USC, have stated that they agree that this is offensive but will anything really be done? As many of us in the movement are painfully aware, instances such as these tend to be swept under the rug and eventually forgotten, and the perpetrators walk away with a simple slap of the wrist, if that.
To make sure this does not end that same way, help us get the word out that this should not be condoned or simply swept under the rug. Contact your local, state and national media and encourage them to discuss the implications of situations such as these in our university campuses and communities. We owe it to victims and survivors at USC and all our communities to send a clear message that this is NOT acceptable and will not be excused.