I would like to address the issue of racism, which has circulated throughout this campus during the last few weeks, due to the “rock incident” that happened more than two weeks ago.

For those of you who are unaware of the situation, let me explain it briefly. A minority group on campus, Culturas de las Razas Unidas - commonly known as CRU - had spent a considerable amount of time painting a Hispanic Heritage Month message on the rock on Farm Lane. Later that night, after promising they would not paint over it, pledges from Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity came along and painted over it anyway. Infuriated, Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan members then spray-painted “racists” over this fraternity’s painting. Sigma Alpha Mu, shocked at this unexpected outburst, attempted to remedy the situation by painting “Sammies honor CRU and Hispanic Heritage Month.” A representative from the fraternity also apologized for any “miscommunication.”

First, let me start by saying that this whole incident has been wrongly labeled racism. I’m sorry, did I miss something? It has been tradition for how many years to paint this rock? So how is this racism? Sure, MEXA has a right to be frustrated, especially when Sigma Alpha Mu stated that they would not paint over it. However, how did MEXA even attempt to turn this into a racist issue? Call it rude, call it obnoxious, call it anything but racist. If it had racial slurring, or something of that nature, I could understand. But it didn’t. The only thing that this fraternity did was paint over the rock. Correct me if I am wrong, but that’s the whole purpose, is it not? Somebody’s painting has to be painted over. And though this fraternity promised they would not paint it, I certainly have never heard of any time slots for paintings - or rules.

Next, I would like to address the retaliation of MEXA. I think it handled this matter in a rather unjust way. Racist is a strong word, and in our society you don’t go around labeling people or situations out of anger when there is no obvious slandering toward a racial or ethnic group. I think the members of MEXA have really made quite an embarrassment of themselves. First, by labeling Sigma Alpha Mu unjustly as “racists.” Next, by refusing to forgive the situation after several forms of public apology on Sigma Alpha Mu’s behalf. Finally, by blatantly refusing to apologize for their hasty actions.

I would like to remind MEXA that Sigma Alpha Mu happens to be an ethnically diverse fraternity, housing several minorities. So why, then, would they intentionally paint over this rock in efforts to be racist toward MEXA? The group didn’t take any of this into consideration before it decided to slander this fraternity - it retaliated swiftly and unjustly. This was wrong. Clearly, both parties are at fault. Please don’t misinterpret what I am saying. I do think it was rather rude that this fraternity painted over CRU’s painting, after saying they would not. Come on, when you say you are not going to do something, don’t do it. For that reason, the members owe an apology. It was both childish and wrong. But it was not racist. Fraternities do the same thing to sororities all the time. I never hear sororities labeling this a “sexist” situation.

We are all adults. We should not only have respect for others, but know two wrongs don’t make a right and fault should be admitted on both sides. Although Sigma Alpha Mu disrespected CRU, they did admit fault and apologized. MEXA has not apologized. In many ways, MEXA has publicly slandered and mislabeled the culturally diverse fraternity group. Yet they refuse to apologize. Why? This in itself is rude and childish. It is horrific enough that we live in a society where actual racism is prevalent; where hatred and violence seem to dominate. In American culture, it seems that individualism and uniqueness are constantly praised and sought after. So why, then, can we not see past ethnic barriers? If “different is good,” then why is it so bad? The answer lies within all of us, for we each have the power to change this, and many of us are. But, for God’s sake, don’t turn something into a racial issue when it is clearly not. We have enough problems with real racism, don’t you think?

All in all, I think Sigma Alpha Mu has done its best to make up for something it had no intention of starting, in an attempt to pacify MEXA. Now it is MEXA’s turn. An apology to Sigma Alpha Mu is needed to settle this issue once and for all. An apology for misjudgment, for slandering and for false accusations. For those of you who think there is no need for MEXA to apologize, think again. It matched Sigma Alpha Mu’s infantile behavior when they wrongly accused it and stubbornly refused to apologize for it. I think MEXA ought to thoroughly assess situations before it takes last-minute actions, which could slander others. After all, this campus is very ethnically diverse and we all do a pretty good job respecting each other. Let’s continue that respect by ending this situation with an apology on both ends.

Erin Yerke is a State News undergraduate columnist whose column appears every other Wednesday. E-mail her your thoughts at yerkeeri@msu.edu.