Fukumoto: Purple Book harms freshmen by “reinforcing stereotypes”
In 2005, I made the mistake of buying this thing called the “Purple Book.” It had been advertised all summer as the “Holy Bible” of college — what you needed to get through freshman year. I certainly didn’t expect to be told I was never going to be popular or go to parties because of the dorm I lived in. Nor that I was already destined to fall into the category affectionately called “Medilldos” – journalism freaks who were never going to get laid. When the Purple Book disappeared for the rest of my time at Northwestern, I was relieved.
But now it’s back. The only difference of the 2009 version is the two “editors” of the book branded its cover with their names. While many know the two are in one certain Greek chapter on campus, it was a bold move to go against the unspoken pact of all four Greek councils to stop the spreading of stereotypes. Even bolder was the decision to proudly advertise 50 percent of proceeds would be donated to “fighting global poverty.” So if Michael Vick donated his dog fighting profits to PETA, would we fawn over his philanthropic efforts?
My beef with the book is what it does to the freshmen, as it automatically categorizes them by reinforcing stereotypes. Sure, the majority of the Class of 2013 won’t shell out the $20 for the book, but it’ll leave an impression on anyone who listens. Why can’t we let the freshmen figure out for themselves whether they like the people in their dorm, or which Greek chapter they want to join (if at all)?
As a member of sorority, I am disgusted two fellow Greeks would take this opportunity to reinforce the belief some have in a Greek hierarchy. Word on the street is every chapter was given the opportunity to write its own page. To those who contributed blindly, I’m sorry for you. I’m sorry you didn’t feel strongly enough to keep up the progress Greeks have made against negative stereotypes. I also have a very hard time believing the chapter descriptions, written by two fraternity brothers, weren’t doctored up at all to fit their personal perceptions.
And if you take out the Greek section of the Purple Book, you have…well, still a pile of garbage. Some of the content has the potential to be funny, but I’m not sure how many of even the pot smokers would want to sink their pipes into “Top Ten Places to have a Psychedelic Expirience [sic]” or “How to Get a 4.0 while remaining a pothead.”
Now comes the part where you wonder why I care so much if I’m not even on campus any more. As a peer adviser and then a two-year board member for Wildcat Welcome, I dedicated three years to ensuring the safest, fairest and most rewarding orientation for the freshmen. The Facebook event page for the book bashes the Wildcat Welcome staff for sending an e-mail asking peer advisers to consider disassociating themselves with the book. “PAs are no longer allowed to give honest opinions,” it reads. When I was a peer adviser, no one was stopping me from being honest with my freshmen. But there’s a difference between being honest and advocating a $20 piece of literary trash.
As a Medill graduate, I know plenty about freedom of speech. While we can’t stifle the Purple Book, we can oppose it. Don’t buy into it. But if you did make the same mistake I did and bought the book, take it with the biggest grain of salt. Northwestern is your fresh canvas. Don’t let someone else tell you how to paint it.
-Jenny Fukumoto, Medill ‘09
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Way to give the purple book the attention it does not deserve (and ignorantly contribute to the end you desperately tried to avoid). You are pathetic Jenny Fukumoto, get a life. You do not go here anymore, and even when you did, you were a disgrace to the Greek system and all you represented there. Northwestern has benefited greatly from your departure. Please don’t ruin a good thing.
Ew.
youhavegottobekiddingme
September 20, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Herm…. Two awful people who wrote the Purple Book, two nasty comments? I wonder who “urdumb” and “youhavegottobekiddingme” are??? Enjoy your time of popularity now, morons, cause once you graduate you’ll be as nameless and faceless as everyone else.
School of Comm' '09
September 20, 2009 at 10:25 pm
I think Fukumoto brings up a few good points…the campus WAS better without the purple book! I’m a senior too and think it’s funny two guys from one of the most self-righteous frats took it upon themselves to bring it back.
S.R.
September 21, 2009 at 6:54 am
What does it matter what fraternity these guys are in?
You say “campus WAS better without the purple book!”
Based on what? Have YOU read the new purple book?
It seems people are so quick to judge the publication based on…well…nothing.
Kidding?
September 21, 2009 at 10:42 am
As a freshman who bought the book, I can’t say I’m thrilled with it, but I’m definitely not disgusted either. Pages 4 and 5 of the book (right after the title page and the dedication) describe in detail the fact that the book has bias and is just one opinion in a sea of thousands. I knew that when I bought it. I bought it because it seemed funny (which it was) and because I just wanted to see another facet of life here. A facet that, in all likelihood, I won’t be participating in, so I might as well try and learn about it and not judge it.
I’m not “corrupted” by this book, and I haven’t suddenly started seeing Northwestern as a homogeneous collection of stereotypes. Let’s face it, we’re all Northwestern students; we’re way too smart to think that way, regardless of what one particular source of information says.
I agree with the author’s fears, but I don’t think those fears are actually being realized.
Just my two cents.
Miriam
September 21, 2009 at 1:59 pm
It’s not that fraternities were “given the option” to write about themselves. The authors informed all IFC presidents that either they can write the entry or the entry would be written for them. Given that few chapter presidents would trust two gentlemen so insidious that they wrote the damn thing, all IFC chapters were de facto blackmailed into writing it.
This means that the authors and the books supporters can claim that the book has the backing of IFC chapters. The fact of the matter is that we are all given an ultimatum and a social gun was put to our head.
As a member of a fraternity, I am embarrassed and disgusted that this book was written and how chapters were treated. I think IFC has ANY guts, it would bring forth Sigma Phi Epsilon on some sort of honors charges. The Purple Book has damaged Greek life in ways that even the great Sig Ep cannot fix.
FraternityGentleman
September 21, 2009 at 5:11 pm
You think that if IFC has ANY guts, it’d bring SigEp up on some sort of charge?
Interesting, for the guy who anonymously comments on articles online.
Guts?
http://www.northwesternifc.org/gui.php?page=contact
If you think there’s a case, refer them. You can be the primary witness. Be sure to mention you’re a gentlemen. Testify in front of the standards board about how the big mean SigEps dishonored your precious fraternity.
Don’t hide behind an ironic pseudonym. Have some guts yourself.
Guts
September 21, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Aren’t Greek stereotypes all true?
ummm
September 22, 2009 at 7:35 pm
does anyone have a pirated copy of this book. i want to see what all the fuss is about, but i don’t care enough about charities to pay for it.
johnny dep
September 24, 2009 at 12:11 am
Jenny, Nice article. Im glad there are opinions in NU publications that espouse a view other than the typical “Frats Can Do No Wrong” attitude. I havent seen the Purple Book ‘09, but I saw the one from a few years ago and it was pure douche-iness. I can only imagine this one is similar. It’s an embarrassment to the school as a whole and to the student body.
Thank you!
September 28, 2009 at 4:51 pm