Retiring of Oppressive Terminology
- Sigma Lambda Beta
- Sep 23, 2020
- 1 min read
Updated: Jan 23, 2021
North Liberty, IA—On September 19, 2020, the House of Delegates convened to elect new leadership, vote on proposals, and enact resolutions for the Fraternity. By an overwhelming majority vote, the House of Delegates voted to retire the use of the word "colony" in Sigma Lambda Beta's constitution, policies, and publications.
The Executive Board of Directors (EBOD) authored the proposal. "Many Brothers come from backgrounds whose ancestors were victims of colonization. As a fraternity, we should shift to remove oppressive terminology," says the EBOD.
All undergraduate entities of Sigma Lambda Beta will be known as “chapters.” New expansion groups to the Fraternity will be known as "uncharted chapters." These uncharted chapters will observe the naming procedure of their respective institution's name, followed by "Chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta." For example, "Big State University Chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta." Once a new expansion group fulfills the appropriate requirements, they will earn their chapter's charter and receive their Greek letter designation. For expansion groups at institutions where the Fraternity previously had a chartered entity, The Fraternity will assign the historic Greek letters the entity had before once appropriate requirements have been met.
About Sigma Lambda Beta
Sigma Lambda Beta is a historic Latino based fraternity with a multicultural membership founded in 1986 at the University of Iowa. Sigma Lambda Beta's mission is to nurture and further a dynamic, values-based environment which utilizes our historically Latino based fraternity as a catalyst to better serve the needs and wants of all people.
For additional information regarding Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity please contact the Executive office at 319-242-7540 and/or the Fraternity Executive Director, Xavier Romano at xromano@sigmalambdabeta.com.
Interesting to see Sigma Lambda Beta moving away from colonial language. For a fun brain break, try the arrow puzzle while you reflect on these changes.
The fraternity's decision to retire the term "colony" is a thoughtful step towards more inclusive language. It also made me think of ai tools as a quick change of pace. Recognizing how historical terms can perpetuate harm is crucial for organizations aiming to foster equity. Tools like AI-powered content checkers can help identify such terminology, assisting groups in making respectful choices during edits and publications.
The push to retire oppressive terminology, like replacing 'master/slave' with more inclusive alternatives, is vital for creating respectful spaces. I appreciate articles that challenge us to rethink language. When I need a quick mental reset, I enjoy playing online block puzzles during browser breaks.
The decision to replace "colony" with "uncharted chapter" shows a thoughtful effort to acknowledge historical contexts and respect members' backgrounds. While updating internal language is a solid first step, I wonder how organizations can similarly modernize their external tools and resources—for instance, using an AI music generator to create more inclusive or culturally aware content for recruitment. It would be interesting to see if other fraternities follow this lead.
The discussion about retiring oppressive terms to create more inclusive spaces is timely. Similarly, understanding how language shapes perceptions in sports is crucial. In a game like basketball stars, the terminology used can influence how players engage with each other and the competition itself. Fostering respectful communication enhances the experience for everyone.