SEO: Greek Alliance questions societal privilege Greek Alliance analyzes privilege Students discuss LGBT issues in Greek

community
By Jessica Schram Societal privilege was the focus of Marchs Greek Alliance meeting, where advantages of heterosexual students in Greek life were the topic of conversation. Although newly established last fall, the Alliance boasted more than 20 attendees at the Alpha Delta Pi house, a record for the spring semester. At the meeting, Alliance leader and senior history and journalism major Taylor Griffith raised questions about heterosexual privilege to draw attention to the lack of outed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in Greek life. The leader urged members to think critically about their organizations level of acceptance by probing attendees with controversial questions. Has your chapter ever considered accepting a [sorority] member who identified as a woman but was biologically a man? Griffith asked. The room was silent. Members were reluctant to respond, but Griffith pressed for conversation. Do you think your organization would forbid a member from living in the chapter house if they came out as homosexual? the leader added. Griffiths second question peaked interest, and mumbled whispers filled the room. Junior public health major Courtney Carpenter said she would be comfortable with a homosexual sister in her sorority house, but knows of friends who would not be as accepting. (more)

Schram, Mainbar, Greek Alliance, p.2 Privileges in perspective Griffith used Carpenters comment about the wariness of her friends to segue into privilege and explain that the phenomenon typically gives one group an upper hand while simultaneously disadvantaging another. To educate the Alliance about heterosexual privilege, Griffith turned the meeting over to leader-in-training and sophomore community health major Chelsea Lupo, who introduced herself and began to explain the privilege card activity. Lupo instructed members to write four privileges on index cards and pass them back to her once they were finished. The leader-in-training then shuffled and reallocated the cards among the group as she asked members to share privileges they found most interesting. Senior English major and outed bisexual Katy McVay went first, reading a card that said, I am able to express my sexual orientation without being judged. McVay added that she thought this privilege was particularly notable because she wrote the same privilege on one of her cards from the LGBT perspective. (more)
Taylor Griffith (right) sports the Greek Alliance T-shirt to show support for her bisexual friend and fellow Alliance member, Katy McVay, as they celebrate the clubs success after Marchs meeting. Photo by Jessica Schram

Schram, Mainbar, Greek Alliance, p.3 Although McVay expressed her comfort for being out in Greek life, she continued to note that not all LGBT Greeks feel the same. We are an underground network of people who know people, McVay said of LGBT Greeks, adding the rarity of her comfort, I have gay friends who refuse to come out at school. Lupo used McVays comments to conclude the meeting and reminded members of the purpose of the Greek Alliance, which is to spread awareness about LGBT issues and continue to be advocates for those who live in fear. Having an outlet like [the Greek Alliance] is a privilege in itself, Lupo said. The leader-in-training admitted that change takes time, but the existence of the Greek Alliance is a stepping-stone in the right direction.

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SEO: Taylor Griffith, founder of Greek Alliance Inspired student sparks conversations about LGBT issues
By Jessica Schram A thirst for change and a hunger for answers by a woman who craved solutions was the foundation for the Greek Alliance at the University of Maryland. Former Panhellenic president and senior history and journalism major Taylor Griffith credits her inspiration for the Greek Alliance to an eye-opening experience at the Northeast Greek Leadership Association conference she attended last February. It was a three-day event with hundreds of offered workshops and thousands of Greek leaders, but there was only one opportunity to discuss LGBT issues and only eight people who participated, Griffith said of the workshop, noting her disbelief. Shocked by the workshops minimal attention and awakened to the lack of LGBT representation in Maryland Greek life, the president decided it was time to make a change. Pursuing her vision for change, Griffith contacted the LGBT Equity Center along with Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council advisors Liz Brown and Brian Golden about establishing a Greek-sponsored LGBT advocacy group on campus. (more)

LGBT advocacy is the civil rights movement of our generation. Taylor Griffith

Schram, Sidebar, Greek Alliance, p.2 With permission from the advisors and advice from the equity center, Griffith used her summer to plan the Greek Alliance and turned her vision into a reality by fall. Promising progress Although the small number of attendees at the first meeting discouraged Griffith in September, she says she notices the Alliances growth each month and is happy about its progress. LGBT advocacy is the civil rights movement of our generation, Griffith said, The movement is growing, awareness is spreading and the issue is becoming known. That's all I really wantedacknowledgment.

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SEO: Greek Alliance to discuss privilege Tuesday Students discuss privilege and LGBT issues
By Jessica Schram Join the Greek Alliance Tuesday, March 12, as they discuss heterosexual privileges in Marylands Greek community. Founder Taylor Griffith will jointly lead this months discussion with the Alliances leader-in-training Chelsea Lupo as they raise questions about life experiences and their objectivity in society. The Greek Alliance will meet at 9 p.m. in the Alpha Delta Pi house on College Avenue across from St. Andrews Episcopal Church. All university students are welcome to attend. For more information contact Taylor Griffith at tmgriffi@terpmail.umd.edu.

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Possible Tweets By Jessica Schram

Before: Join the #GreekAlliance tonight at 9 as they discuss the power of #privilege at the @umdADPi chapter house: 4535 College Ave. Character Count w/ hashtag/bit.ly: 125 Character Count w/o hashtag/bit.ly: 123

During: Privileges give one group an upper hand while giving another group a disadvantage, @Tmgriffi. Whats on your #PrivilegeCard? Character count: 134 Character Count w/o hashtag/bit.ly: 131

After: Members leave proudly as they consider the #GreekAlliance to be a privilege and stepping-stone for #LGBT Greeks @UofMaryland. Character count: 126 Character Count w/o hashtag/bit.ly: 120

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