Today we feature fourth-year student Erika Shaid. Erika joined Greek Life on U-M's campus and played an active role in her sorority (including holding leadership positions). Erika is also very involved as an IGR student.
Erika recently gave a "witness report" at a hearing for the Fall 2013 Theta Xi Party Hearing. We asked Erika about what motivated her to give the report. She said:
I often felt that my world in Greek Life and my IGR/Social Justice world were very separate. I had a hard time bridging the two. Throughout this experience I realized that there are many people in Greek Life who care about social justice just as much as I do. However, I did realize that there are many people that just aren't aware. I felt like my membership in both communities gave me the opportunity to speak to something that I am really passionate about.
Below is a transcript of Erika's witness report:
I am a senior and dedicated member to a Panhellenic sorority. I was recruitment chair, I was on the philanthropy committee, I have been to countless date parties, mixers, and Saturday morning Pregames.
I am one of you.
When I found out about the party, I was angry. I have gained so much from my time in Greek Life: amazing friends, leadership, and community service opportunities. However, with love comes criticism. I often feel that I have to defend Greek life in social justice spaces. I know how much I’ve gained, and I want Greek Life to be all that it can be. With criticism comes growth, and that is why I am here tonight.
As a white woman, at first I felt like it wasn’t my right to speak out about this. This party was specifically attacking black women, and the poor black community in particular. I was exempt. My race and class allowed me to escape the blatant derogatory theme of this party. However, as a member of Greek Life, I should speak against this. As a human being, it is my responsibility to speak against this.
Nothing that I am saying is new. Nothing is profound. There have been countless people of color to come before me and say what I am about to say.
This is not an individual problem. Parties like this are pervasive throughout Greek life on this campus and on other campus’ in the US yet they are rarely challenged. Last year, a sorority at Penn State University was caught dressed up for a Mexican-themed party holding signs with extremely racist statements. I can easily say that I have attended a white-trash party, one that has significant oppressive classist implications. I have dressed in countless Halloween costumes that were both offensive and racist. Although I never intended to be overtly inappropriate in my dress, that does not remove my responsibility for those actions. I must take responsibility.
I am standing here right now asking you to require that Theta Xi does the same.
I am here tonight as a representative for my friends and peers who when I asked if they knew about the Theta Xi incident they said, “oh ya… wait, what happened again?”. I am here for the countless times I heard black women in my classes say they were emotionally exhausted from talking about this, whereas my white friends hadn’t even thought about it at all. I am here because I am lucky. I have found a community at Michigan who challenges my assumptions, my biases, my unintended racist and classist comments. I have spent the last four years trying to un-learn everything that I thought I knew.
Not everyone has that opportunity.
As a white person in this world, we aren’t checked. We aren’t asked to speak on behalf of our race or defend behaviors of it. If our only interaction with people different from us are in class (and not that much in class for that matter), than we begin to believe that inappropriate social behaviors are okay. They are funny, they are just joking. If we don’t know anyone that will be personally offended by it, we think it is fine. Unfortunately, that is my reality and the reality of Greek life here at Michigan.
There are 5,427 members in Greek life here. That equates to 19.19% of this campus, which is surprising for some, as Greek Life’s voice seems to dominate campus.
The majority of Greek Life is white, upper-middle class, and heterosexual. Of course there are exceptions, there are members of Greek life from all races and ethnicities, but as I think about the girls I lived with, and the parties I attended, most people looked like me and came from similar types of backgrounds that I did.
My freshman year I stood on the steps of the Michigan union at 2am, on the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps. I stood as a proud Michigan student. I was amazed that I went to such a radical, progressive University, that wasn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. That wasn’t afraid to fight injustice and oppression. I stand before you unsure if that is the reality today.
It’s time that Michigan requires us to check ourselves. It’s time that Michigan requires students to understand the privilege they hold. As I walked through Mason Hall today, I read the words on the #BBUM’s wall posting, “I had to write on this board to be heard”. University of Michigan responded to the tweets, “Thanks for engaging in this conversation. We’re listening, and will be sure all of your voices are heard.” Michigan and panel, this is your chance.
Erika currently studies Sociology and Community Action/Social Change (CASC) here at U-M. She participated in a dialogue class as a first-year student, took IGR's training class and then facilitated Race and Ethnicity Dialogue in Fall of 2013. Erika hopes to facilitate another course in Winter of 2014.