Announcement

STATEMENT: NMGC Joins Interfraternal Organizations to Challenge Tennessee Bill that would Ban Fraternal Organizations from State Colleges and Universities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2018

STATEMENT: NMGC Joins Interfraternal Organizations to Challenge Tennessee Bill that would Ban Fraternal Organizations from State Colleges and Universities

Officials from the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC), National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA), North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), and Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), have issued the following joint statement in response to legislation introduced in the Tennessee House of Representatives by Rep. John Deberry (D) that would ban fraternal organizations from state colleges and universities.

Joint Statement from Represented Interfraternal Organizations
“One million undergraduate students and 10 million alumni have found great value through their fraternities and sororities—including tens of thousands of students at Tennessee universities, which provide opportunities for personal growth, foster local hands-on service and philanthropic contributions, and build communities of support for young men and women.

While colleges and universities are facing critical challenges, fraternities and sororities are actively partnering with campuses to implement measures to enhance health and safety, and we invite true collaboration and dialogue with public officials as we focus on solutions.

Representative DeBerry’s legislation would sever the partnership between Tennessee colleges and universities and the fraternities and sororities on their campuses. It is a misguided approach that has not only failed to garner a Senate companion, but won’t solve deeply-rooted campus culture issues and would likely make them worse. Together, as interfraternal organizations, we call on Rep. DeBerry to withdraw his bill, which if implemented, would have a chilling effect on a student’s basic constitutional rights of freedom of expression and association.”

Click here to see statements from the other interfraternal organizations on the NIC website.

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Victoria Valdez, President of the National Multicultural Greek Council
“Multicultural fraternities and sororities like those in the National Multicultural Greek Council are integral to the lives of the students who find safety and community in their organizations, particularly those who face the daily trauma of existing as students of color or other underrepresented communities. We stand firmly against hazing, but believe banning Greek-letter organizations and their activities will hurt those students, who are committed to the promotion of multiculturalism, scholarship, leadership, diversity, and advocating for justice on their campus and in their communities. It would also push hazing and other dangerous behaviors underground, potentially harming those it seeks to protect.”

For more information or to speak to an NMGC representative, please contact Tanya Arditi Saavedra, Public Relations Coordinator, at pr@nationalmgc.org.

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The National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) is an umbrella council for a coalition of Multicultural Greek-Letter Organizations (MGLOs). Established in 1998, the NMGC’s mission is to promote multiculturalism by advocating for justice and equity, cultivating interfraternal relationships, and empowering its member organizations.